
Glass F(^3 0- 

Book, ^^ 

Cop}TightN^_ 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2010 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/montezumaconquesOOseel 



FAMOUS AMERICAN INDIANS, 



MONTEZUMA 



AND 



THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 



BY 

\ 
EDWARD EGGLESTON \ 



LILLIE EGGLESTON SEELYE. 



NEW YORK: 

DODD, MEAD & COMPANY, 

Publishers. 






LIBRARY of 06NGRESSJ 
I wo CoDies Heceitde 

St? 21 }^0Q 
dOP r g*. 



Copyright, 1880, 1908 
By DODD, mead & COMPANY 



CONTENTS. 



rAGB 

Preface 7 

CHAPTER I. 
Montezuma's Kingdom ir 

CHAPTER II. 
Montezuma 18 

CHAPTER III. 
Hernando Cortes , 34 

CHAPTER IV. 
The Sailing of the Armada 40 

CHAPTER V. 
The Battle of Tabasco 49 

CHAPTER VI. 
Donna Marina 60 

CHAPTER VII. 
The Spaniards in the Kingdom of Montezuma 64 

to 



p%mu^ 



4 CONTENTS. 

PACK 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Montezuma's Gift 71 

CHAPTER IX. 
"The Rich Town of the True Cross." 76 

CHAPTER X. 
Cortes Deceives Montezuma 82 

CHAPTER XI. 
The Idols of Cempoalla Thrown Down — Cor- 
tes Destroys His Ships 90 

CHAPTER XII. 
Forward for Mexico 98 

CHAPTER XIII. 
A Lion in the Path 105 

CHAPTER XIV. 
h riendship and Treachery 118 

CHAPTER XV. 
The Entry into Mexico : . 1 28 

CHAPTER XVL 
Montezuma and Hernando Cortes 138 

CHAPTER XVII. 
MoNTizuMA Taken Captive 150 



CONTENTS. 5 



CHAPTER XVIII. 
Montezuma As a Prisoner 159 

CHAPTER XIX. 
Insurrection of the Mexican Princes 167 

CHAPTER XX. 
Division of Treasure 176 

CHAPTER XXI. 
Velasquez Interferes 184 

CHAPTER XXII. 
A Night Battle 194 

CHAPTER XXIII. 
The Mexicans in Arms 206 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
The Mexicans Besiege Cortes 217 

CHAPTER XXV. 
The Death of Montezuma 224 

CHAPTER XXVI. 
The Sad Night J35 

CHAPTER XXVII. 
The Retreat 249 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 
Making a Fresh Start 256 



6 CONTENTS. 

rxGi 

CHAPTER XXIX. 
In the Valley of Mexico Again 271 

CHAPTER XXX. 
The Iztapalapans Outwit Cortes 280 

CHAPTER XXXI. 
Cortes Reconnoitres 287 

CHAPTER XXXII. 
Forts upon Rocks. Some Narrow Escapes... 2^7 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 
Spanish Brigantines and Mexican Canoes.,.. 312 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 
Capturing the Causeway 320 

CHAPTER XXXV. 
A Mexican Victory 334 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 
Hope FOR Mexico 348 

CHAPTER XXXVII. 
The Destruction of Mexico 355 

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
The Capture of Guatemozin. 367 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 
Conclusion 379 



PREFACE 



The despatches of Cortes and the narrative 
of Bernal Diaz, himself a participant in the war 
of the conquest, have been our chief authorities, 
for the facts of this history. We have consulted 
all the principal works on the subject, but these 
two eye-witnesses must always be the main 
source of information. 

The Authors. 



CHAPTER I. 

MONTEZUMA'S KINGDOM. 

WhiIE in the eastern hemisphere, he who 
imagined the possibility of reaching land beyond 
the mysterious atlantic, was deemed but a vis- 
ionary dreamer, civilization had flourished, fallen 
and sprung up again in the western world. Al- 
ready the wonderful ruins of an ancient American 
civilization had been overgrown by old forests, 
and the builders of them were forgotten by the 
people of Montezuma's day. While Columbus, 
ignorant of the extent of the globe, and of the 
great continent which lay between him and Asia, 
believed that he had but discovered a passage 
to the East Indies, more than one American 
monarch was extending and consolidating a king- 
dom which bade fair to last for ages. The gentle 
savages of the West Indian Archipelago were 
soon subjugated by the Spanish sword and were 
easily ground by cruel Spanish avarice, but the 
great Gulf of Mexico hid for a time the mainland 
from the settlements upon the Islands. 



12 MONTEZUMA, 

Within Montezuma's country were all the cli 
mates of the various zones. Along the seacoast 
is a wide tropical belt, known as the " hot coun- 
tries," — Mexico's garden of fruits. But as one 
travels inland, the country rises to high and 
still higher tablelands, the change in vegetation 
marking the change in climate, until one reaches 
the temperate region. Above this rise the great 
mountain peaks, some of them higher than any 
mountain in Europe, fringed with pines and 
finally crowned with eternal snow. Far inland, 
more than seven thousand feet above the sea, 
lay the beautiful valley of Mexico, some sixty 
miles in length and forty in breadth, surrounded 
by a high wall of mountains, guarded by a great 
volcano, ornamented with woods, fertile cornfields 
and flower-gardens, sparkling with lakes and 
thickly dotted with white cities and towns. 
Again the tablelands descend, but more abruptly, 
to the Pacific ocean. 

In the midst of the valley stood Mexico, 
Montezuma's own native city and the capital of 
the country. Ancient Mexico has been styled 
*^ the Venice of the new world." It was built on 
a small island in the salt water lake of Tezcuco, 
and connected with the mainland by great stone 
causeways, furnished with drawbridges, by means 



MONTEZUMA S KINGDOM. 1 3 

of which the city could quickly be turned into a 
fortress. It had long outgrown the limits of the 
small island. Many of the buildings rested on 
piles in the water, and many of the streets were 
canals, crossed here and there by bridges and 
alive with busy native canoes, loaded with mer- 
chandise of every sort. For a horse's hoof had 
never clattered on the smooth pavements of Mex- 
ico, and the canoe was the only vehicle seen in 
her streets. The ruins discovered far outside the 
limits of the Mexico of to-day, prove that Mon- 
tezuma's capital was a very large city. The 
plainer buildings were mere huts of adobe or sun- 
dried brick, and most of the streets were narrow, 
but several great avenues ran through the city, 
ornamented with palaces, gardens and temples, 
and widening here and there into great public 
squares. The huts of the poorer class were white- 
washed, the temples and finer buildings were fre- 
quently covered with a hard, polished stucco, 
which glistening in the sun, at a little distance, 
gave the city the appearance of a city of silver. 

An absolute monarch gathers around him 
every luxury. Each successive Mexican king had 
sought to aggrandize his reign by the building of 
some new palace or some loftier temple. Monte- 
zuma required all his nobles and tributary princes 



14 MONTEZUMA. 

to live for a part of the year at the capital 
Thus the great central avenue of the city was 
Hned with the palaces of the nobles. The build- 
ings of ancient America were never lofty. They 
rested upon terraces or mounds, were low and 
rambling, surrounding inner courts, and decorated 
with porticoes of porphyry and jasper. The ter- 
races were always gay with flowers, sometiines 
the roofs of the houses were covered with gar 
dens, like the famous hanging gardens of Baby- 
lon. Every house was a fortress, the flat roof 
surrounded with walls and turrets for defense. 

Mexico was supplied with sweet water by 
means of a great aqueduct which fed the foun- 
tains and baths of the palaces, and in whkh 
openings were made, where the water could be 
procured and carried in canoes to every quarter 
of the city. 

The most curious thing in all the City of 
Mexico was the great temple. It stood in the 
centre of the city, and was surrounded by a 
stone wall carved with figures of serpents, and 
known as " the wall of serpents." There were 
four great gates in this wall, which opened upon 
the principal avenues of the city. Like all Mexi- 
can temples, this structure was built in the shape 
of a pyramid of pebbles and earth, covered with 



MONTEZUMA'S KINGDOM. I5 

hewn stone. It was divided into five stories, 
each story being smaller than the one below • 
thus leaving successive platforms around the edi- 
fice. The pyramid was ascended by staircases at 
one of the; angles. Each staircase communicated 
with a platform, and one was forced to walk en- 
tirely around the pyramid to reach the next 
stairway above. In times of religious celebration 
the processions of priests, winding around and 
around the sides of the immense temple in the 
sight of all men, added greatly to the impres- 
siveness of the ceremony. On the top of the 
temple was a great paved platform, at one end of 
which, stood two towers containing two great 
idols. Here also were two altars where burned 
perpetual fires. At the opposite edge of the 
platform, was the terrible stone of sacrifice, a 
block of solid jasper where human victims, mostly 
prisoners of war, were offered up. There, too, was 
a great drum made of serpent skins, which gave 
forth a terrible wailing noise heard for miles 
around when it was struck on extraordinary occa- 
sions. 

Within this strange city, moved the busy 
throngs of copper-colored inhabitants, clad accord- 
ing to the wealth and position of the wearer, in 
robes of gay cotton, or in garments of a coarse 



1 6 MONTEZUMA. 

fabric, made of the fibres of the magney, or cen- 
tury plant, which is falsely believed to bloom 
only once in a hundred years. Lake and canals 
were dotted with the busy canoes which carried 
on the commerce of a large city. Here and there 
upon the lake were seen floating islands, blos- 
soming with flowers and fruit. These were a sort 
of raft of reeds and roots, made by the economi- 
cal natives who drew up the rich soil from the 
bottom of the shallow lake, and thus made for 
themselves a small movable farm, which they 
shoved here and there at pleasure, and which in 
this sunny climate furnished them with produce 
to carry to the great market of Mexico. One of 
the staple products of this lovely country was 
flowers, for the natives were, and are to this day, 
great lovers of flowers and, strange to say, ofler- 
ings of flowers went side by side with human 
sacrifice in the worship. From Mexico come 
many of their most brilliant plants, cultivated in 
the greenhouses of Europe and America, to-day. 
Great revenues poured into Mexico from re- 
mote provinces. The many cities and numerous 
petty territories subject to the Mexican king 
were taxed in the products of their manufactures 
and lands, to support the grandeur of their mon- 
arch. Chests of chocolate, loads of fine and richly- 



MONTEZUMA S KINGDOM. I7 

dyed cotton robes, gorgeous feather mantles, the 
curious armor of the country made of thickly 
quilted cotton, chests of beans and maize, reams 
of paper made of the pulp of the magney, loaves 
of a fine white salt, used only by the nobles, 
lumps of copal which was burned for incense, cop- 
per axes, little chocolate cups made of turquoise 
stones, loads of lime, tiles of gold, bags of coch- 
ineal, bags of gold-dust, amber lip-jewels, pots of 
liquid amber, skins, bundles of cotton and hand- 
fuls of scarlet feathers, were some of the things 
which poured into the royal treasury of Mexico. 

Mexico or Tenoctitlan, as it was then called, 
was not the only capital city within the beautiful 
valley. Here were two smaller kingdoms, those 
of Tezcuco and Tlacopan. These three kingdoms 
were linked together in an ancient league of 
friendship, and their monarchs visited back and 
forth from tb nr capitals, which were but a few 
miles apart. But the Mexican empire reached 
from the Pa ific to the Atlantic, and her con- 
quests extended far south. Only one neighbor- 
ing province had been able to withstand the 
conquering armies of the league. The little re- 
public of Tlascala, in her mountain fastnesses. 
had always bid a bitter defiance to her richer and 
more powerful neighbors. 



CHAPTER II. 



MONTEZUMA. 



In the centre of Mexico, facing 'the great 
temple, was a rambling pile of massive stone 
buildings, with numerous courts and gardens 
decorated with fountains and baths. Inside were 
spacious rooms, hung with tapestry of richly- 
stained cotton, carpeted with mats and rushes, 
and furnished with curious low stools of carved 
wood, and beds of thick mats with coverlets and 
canopies of cotton. This was the palace of the 
king Axayacatl, Montezuma's father, and here, in 
the king's harem, was born the little prince, Mon- 
tezuma, about 1479. It seemed by no means 
certain, that the child would ever inherit the 
throne for, in Mexico, the kings were elected by 
a body of nobles. A prince had always to distin- 
guish himself as a general, before he stood a 
chance of election. The choice was made from 
the king's brothers or nephews. The little Mon- 
tezuma had both uncles and brothers between 
him and the throne. 



MONTEZUMA. I9 

Aztec parents took the greatest pains in bring, 
ing up their children. They were carefully in- 
structed in morals and in the worship of their 
gods. Children were especially trained in good 
behavior. Years afterward, the Spaniards were 
struck with Montezuma's charming manners. A 
Mexican father would say to his boy : ** When 
any one talks with you, listen to him attentively, 
and hold yourself in an easy attitude, neither 
playing with your feet, nor putting your mantle 
in your mouth, nor spitting too often, nor look- 
ing about you here and there, nor rising up fre- 
quently if you are sitting, for such actions show 
levity and low breeding. When you are at table 
do not eat greedily, nor show any disgust if you 
do not like anything. If any one comes unex- 
pectedly to dinner with you, share with him what 
you have, and when you entertain any one, do 
not stare at him.*' 

At about five years of age, well-regulated 
Mexican children were sent to the temple to be 
educated. Within " the wall of serpents," be- 
sides the sanctuaries of the idols, were extensive 
schools, homes for the priests, gardens and baths. 
The boys were instructed by priests, and the girls 
by matrons who devoted themselves to the ser- 
vice of the temple. The boys were educated in 



20 MONTEZUMA. 

the hieroglyphic writings of the country, taught 
to recite long traditional poems, instructed in the 
astronomical knowledge of the Aztecs, which was 
considerable, though like all imperfect knowledge 
much mixed with superstition. The girls were 
taught such useful arts as spinning and weaving, 
while both boys and girls had their particular 
duties in the care of the temples. The sons of 
the nobility swept the summit of the great pyra- 
mid, and kept the altar fires always burning. 
Boys of a lower station performed more menial 
offices, such as bringing wood for the fires, while 
the girls rose three times during the night to 
burn incense of copal, and prepared various sav- 
oury dishes, which were offered daily to the gods. 
Trained under the very shadow of the temple, 
the Mexicans from early childhood, were accus- 
tomed to the dark superstitions of their religion. 
Montezuma himself was especially devoted to his 
religion, and was educated for a priest. But 
among the Aztecs, the priest was more nearly 
connected with war than with peace. The most 
honored of their gods was Huitzilopotchli, the 
god of war. Another name for this god was 
Mexitli, and from him their city took its name. 
This god, as became his province, was fierce and 
blood-thirsty. His priests in their fasts and mys- 



MONTEZUMA. 21 

terious ceremonies, frequently cut themselves and 
drew their own blood to please him. 

Human hearts were his especial delight. In 
wat the Aztecs vied with each other, not in kill- 
ing, but in capturing prisoners to die on the 
altars of Huitzilopotchli. After all, with all our 
horror of such a method of warfare, perhaps there 
was less bloodshed in this way, for it is more 
difficult to capture in battle than to kill. Never- 
theless, in the great successes of Mexican arms, 
almost incredible numbers of captives were sacri- 
ficed. Again and again, triumphal armies entered 
»-he city to the music of their wild instruments, 
rearing with them long lines of captives. These 
rvrere confined in cages. Sometimes the captives 
ivere dressed to represent the god to whom they 
ivere to be sacrificed, feasted, paid court to, pro- 
irided with beautiful girls as wives, and finally at 
the end of a year, sacrificed. The victim was led 
\o the sound of music by a great procession of 
priests clad in black robes, covered with mystic 
:haracters, their long hair clotted with the blood 
Df their self-torture. This weird procession wound 
around and up the temple. The victim was 
made to dance before the gods. He was then 
thrown upon the block of sacrifice. A priest in a 
crimson robe inserted a sharp knife in his breast, 



22 MONTEZUMA. 

tore out his heart, held it up toward the sun, 
and then laid it upon a golden platter before the 
hideous symbolical figure which represented the 
various attributes of the god. The Aztecs wor- 
shipped the sun. Indeed their gods were innum 
arable. Like the savages of the north, they be 
lieved vaguely in an invisible being, whom they 
did not represent in their idols. 

Besides the many deities, each with some par 
ticular province, whose ever-burning altars illumi- 
nated their cities at night, the Aztecs had num- 
bers of little household gods, which they some- 
times stole one from another, and which conferred 
favors alike upon the thief or upon the rightful 
owner. The Aztecs are accused by the old 
Spanish chroniclers of cannibalism as a religious 
rite. We are inclined to think that their fears 
exaggerated this, and that it was only practiced 
in cases of famine and in the ferocity of battle. 

Montezuma, as became a young prince of 
Mexico, distinguished himself in the incessant 
petty wars of his war-like people. On the death 
of his father, two uncles were elected successively 
to the throne. Meantime, Montezuma entered 
the priesthood, and devoted himself exclusively 
to the service of the gods. In 1502, the last 
uncle having died, the next king was to be 



MONTEZUMA. 23 

chosen from among his nephews, of whom there 
were many. 

The four nobles who elected kings, duly met. 
Montezuma had been both a successful warrior 
and a circumspect priest. He was very quiet and 
deliberate, and had especially gained the respect 
of his elders, by his apparent modesty. The 
choice fell upon him. Word was sent to the 
kings of the two allied powers, who, with the 
nobles, speedily went in search of the young 
prince. He was found modestly sweeping down 
the steps of the temple. The king of Tezcuce, 
Nezahualpilli, made the customary speech to the 
young man. 

*' The Mexican empire," said he, among other 
things, ** has unquestionably attained the height 
of its power, as the Creator of heaven has in- 
vested you with so much authority, as to inspire 
all those who behold you with awe and respect. 
Rejoice, therefore, O ! happy land that you are 
destined to have a prince who will not only be 
your support, but will by his clemency prove a 
father and brother to his subjects. Thou hast, in- 
deed, a king who will not seize the occasion of 
his exaltation to give himself up to luxury, and 
lie sluggishly in bed, abandoned to pastimes and 
effeminate pleasures; hi«i anxiety for thee, rather 



24 MONTEZUMA. 

will wake and agitate his bosom in the softest 
hour of repose, nor will he be able to taste food, 
or relish the most delicious morsel, while thy in- 
terests are oppressed or neglected." 

Montezuma Hstened intently, and when he 
tried to answer his voice was choked with tears. 
Every one admired the humility of the young 
king. He now retired to the temple for a four 
days' fast. After this he was conducted with re- 
joicing to the palace, but his formal coronation 
did not take place as yet. This was a religious 
ceremony of great importance, for upon the favor- 
able impression which a king at the outset made 
upon the gods depended, he thought, the pros- 
perity of his reign. There must be sacrifices to 
appease the deities, and Montezuma immediately 
set out for war. Revolting provinces were sel- 
dom wanting, and the young king marched upon 
some rebels, subdued them and returned with 
many captives to die upon the altars of Mexico. 
The coronation was celebrated most magnifi- 
cently, and graced with curious gymnastic games, 
in which the Aztecs were very expert. The 
Mexican crown which Montezuma now wore, was 
shaped like a mitre and made of gold and brilliant 
feather-work. 

The Aztecs were sadly mistaken in reckoning 



MONTEZUMA. 2$ 

on the humility of their young monarch. Never 
had Mexican king, it is said, lived so grandly 
and formally. He allowed none but nobles to 
serve him, and of these he had a great retinue. 
Some six hundred lords also waited on him in 
his palace every day. They remained at the 
king's command in an ante-chamber, while their 
respective retinues filled up the three courts of 
the palace. No one dared enter the presence of 
the king, until he had removed his shoes, and 
thrown over his dress a coarse gown of the mag- 
ney fibers, in token of respect. Only the mem- 
bers of the royal family were allowed to present 
themselves in rich costume. All who entered the 
royal presence bowed, touched the hand to the 
ground and then brought it to the head, saying, 
*• Lord." A second time they bowed and ex- 
claimed, " My lord," and a third time crying, 
" Great lord." They spoke to the king in a low 
voice, keeping the head drooped forward. He 
usually answered them through one of his attend- 
ants, and when they left the audience room they 
backed out, for it would have been a mark of 
disrespect to turn the face away from the king 
in leaving. 

Montezuma's harem was filled with great num- 
bers of Aztec beauties. They each had their 



26 MONTEZUMA. 

apartments, and whiled away their time in spin- 
ning and weaving. Their favorite embroidery 
was the working of pictures upon cloth with the 
gorgeous plumage of their birds. The king's wives 
were guarded by aged women, who saw to their 
proper deportment. 

Here, as in all warm climates, the bath was 
greatly enjoyed. The king refreshed himself in 
his bath at least once every day, and changed 
his robes four times a day. Like Queen Eliza- 
beth, he never wore the same dress a second 
time, but he gave it to his noble attendants, in- 
stead of hoarding it. 

Montezuma kept his royal person particularly 
sacred. He dined alone in a great hall. Before 
the low seat upon which he gave audience, was 
placed a large cushion as a table. This was 
spread with the most delicate of cotton web, 
along with which were fresh towels and napkins 
of the same material. Around Montezuma was 
drawn a carved and gilded screen, that even the 
eyes of the noble attendants might not look too 
curiously on the king while he ate. His dishes 
were of the finest earthenware which his people 
made, and these were never used a second time, 
but immediately given away. Montezuma had 
also a service of gold, but this was only used in 



MONTEZUMA. 27 

some of his religious rites in the temple. The 
cups from which the king drank his chocolate, the 
delicious beverage of the country, of which he 
was very fond, were of gold or curious sea-shells. 
An immense number of dishes were brought in 
by young nobles, and set upon the matted floor. 
The meats were in chafing dishes, containing coals 
that they might be kept hot. There were numer- 
ous kinds of fish and fowl. Turkey was the 
commonest meat of the country. Fresh fish and 
fruits had been brought within twenty-four hours 
from the tropical lands along the seacoast, by 
means of a system of swift runners with relays, 
which the king had upon his principal road 
Maize was the flour of the country, and from 
this, with the use of eggs, various delicate wafers 
and concoctions were made. 

The young noblemen, on setting down the 
dishes, had immediately retired to an ante-cham- 
ber where they dined. The king remained, ac- 
companied only by four of the most beautiful 
women from his harem, his carver and six coun- 
cillors. The women brought the king water to 
wash his hands. Montezuma then pointed with 
a rod to the dishes that pleased him best. The 
rest were carried out for the nobles to dine upon, 
and the door, which was usually a swinging mat, 



28 MONTEZUMA. 

with little bells hung upon it, to give notice of 
ingress or egress, was carefully closed lest the 
king should be seen. The women remained 
standing in attendance. The councillors also 
stood at a distance with averted eyes, and said 
nothing unless the king addressed them a ques- 
tion. During the meal, Montezuma sometimes 
listened to a performance upon the rude musical 
instruments of his country, and sometimes enter- 
tained himself with some deformed men whom he 
kept, as European monarchs did their dwarfs and 
jesters. 

When the king had finished his meal, he 
smoked tobacco, mixed with liquid amber, a sub- 
stance extracted from trees. After dinner he 
took a nap, and was then ready to give audience 
to those who might wish. He was sometimes 
entertained by songs, descriptive of the war-like 
deeds of his ancestors, and sometimes saw ath- 
letic sports. When he moved from his palace, 
it was reclining upon a gorgeous litter, carried 
by his nobles and covered with a rich canopy. 
Such litters are yet used in Mexico as a mode 
of travelling. When this royal litter pass'jd, fol- 
lowed by a long retinue, every one stood still 
and bowed his eyes. 

Montezuma was not satisfied with his father's 



MONTEZUMA. 29 

palace. He built him a new and a grander one. 
It was an extensive building of stone, its courts 
cooled by splashing fountains, its long, low rooms 
ceiled with carved cedar and other sweet-scented 
woods. 

One of the curious fancies of this king was 
an immense aviary in which were assembled all 
the sweet-singing and gay-plumaged birds of the 
country as well as birds of prey. They had a 
great number of faithful attendants who studied 
to supply them with their favorite food and were 
careful to collect every bright feather which 
they let drop, for use in feather-embroidery. 
The birds of prey occupied a separate building, 
and it is even stated that as many as five hun- 
dred turkeys were fed daily to these creatures. 
There was also a collection of wild animals, ser- 
pents and reptiles. 

Around Montezuma's palace were gardens 
carefully cultivated, decorated with fountains 
and tanks of fish surrounded with a marble 
pavement and hung with light canopies of gay 
cotton, making a pleasant retreat on sultry days. 
He had also various pleasure grounds, v/oods for 
his own hunting and more than one palace out 
of the city. His favorite retreat was the hill of 
Chapultepec from whose summit of porphyry is a 



30 MONTEZUMA. 

beautiful view of the surrounding country. Here 
were groves of ancient cypresses, to this day 
standing. "Every one of the royal buildings, 
though some were seldom visited, were kept per- 
fectly clean, for Montezuma was very partial to 
neatness. It is said that he employed a thou- 
sand men in cleaning the streets of Mexico so 
that one might walk in the city with as little 
danger of soiling one's feet as one's hands. 

Montezuma was very princely in his alms. 
When he chose to give, his gifts were always 
magnificent. He was very lavish toward the poor 
of his own city and neighborhood. But, to sup- 
port the magnificence of his own living and his 
host of attendants, the remote and more recently 
conquered provinces were grievously taxed. To 
them Montezuma was a hard and dreaded task- 
master. Thus, like many another monarch, had 
he undermined the foundations of his kingdom. 

Strange to say, the Aztecs seem to have had 
some traditional prediction of the coming of a 
people from over the ocean — connected with 
their idol, Quetzalcoatl, god of the air. They 
believed that he had once lived upon earth as 
a man, and that, under his dispensation, corn grew 
to such an immense size that one ear was a load 
for a man, and cotton grew already dyed. He 



MONTEZUMA. 3 1 

was believed to have been benignant and wise, 
but he finally went to the sea coast, and there 
disappeared, promising some day to return with 
his descendants. This tradition seems strongly 
to have affected the minds of the Mexicans and 
they were looking for a speedy fulfilment of it. 

Perhaps rumors had reached Mexico of the 
dominion of white men upon the West Indies. 
At any rate, strange omens are said to have 
thrown a gloom over the glory of Monte- 
zuma's reign. For instance the Lake of Tezcuco 
suddenly and apparently without cause became 
agitated, rose over its banks and flooded Mexico, 
so that many buildings were destroyed. A tower 
of the great temple at another time mysteriously 
took fire. Comets and a strange blaze of light 
was seen in the east, while low rumblings are 
said to have been heard. Montezuma, filled with 
undefined dread, sent to his neighbor. King Neza- 
hualpilli, who was versed in astrology, for an in- 
terpretation of these mysterious omens. The 
astrologer pronounced it the forerunner of future 
disasters through the arrival of a new people. 
Montezuma was unwilling to accept this inter- 
pretation. Nezahualpilli, according to a custom 
of the country, challenged him to a royal game 
of ball. If Montezuma succeeded, the prophecy 



32 MONTEZUMA. 

should be pronounced false, but if the prophet 
succeeded, it would undoubtedly prove to be 
true. This game was played in an inclosure 
guarded by two idols, the gods of game, and 
thus like everything else in their life was inter- 
woven with superstition. The balls were made 
of elastic gum, and so much was this game 
played that thousands of balls are said to have 
been paid to Montezuma yearly as tribute from 
the districts where they were made. In playing, 
the ball could only be struck with the thigh, 
arm or elbow and never with the hand or foot. 
Every time a player hit the surrounding wall 
with the ball he counted one. In the centre oi 
the play ground were two large stones, resem- 
bling mill-stones with holes in the centre, but 
little larger than the ball. It was an extraor- 
dinary thing to be able to knock a ball through 
these holes, but, if a player succeeded, it won 
him the game, and was moreover a great event 
in his life. The two kings played this singular 
game, and Nezahualpilli won, much to the cha- 
grin of Montezuma. 

In 15 18, news reached the king of some 
strange vessels, touching and exploring along 
the coast. Thus the fore-shadowing of some 
future event darkened with mysterious dread the 



MONTiXUMA. 33 

life of ^he absolute monarch. Helplessly, never 
thinking that he could in any way ward off the 
coming catastrophe, did Montezuma awiit what 
time should unfold 



CHAPTER III. 

HERNANDO CORTES. 

Hernando Cortes was born at Medellin, in 
Spain, in the year 1445. His father was a cap- 
tain of infantry, and both his father and mother 
were of good family. He was a scapegrace of a 
youth. His father tried to make a lawyer of 
him, but, to the great disappointment of his pa- 
rents, he returned from school after two years, 
having learned but little. Hernando wanted to 
be a soldier, or more properly speaking, an ad- 
venturer. The wondrous, unknown, new world 
opened an ample field for all daring spirits. The 
risks were great, but the prizes were large. Per- 
haps an unknown death, perhaps an immense for- 
tune. Like many another wild boy, Cortes was 
willingly packed off to America by his puzzled 
friends. 

Nicholas de Ovando was about sailing with a 
fleet, to take the government of Hispaniola. 
Cortes was to have gone with him, but in one of 
the latter's numerous love affairs, while scaling a 



HERNANDO CORTES. 35 

wall at night to seek an interview with a lady, 
the wall fell with him, and he received injuries 
which kept him in bed until after the sailing of 
the armament. 

For two years more Cortes stayed in Spain, 
and finally sailed with another squadron bound 
for the West Indies, in 1504. Quintero, the cap- 
tain of the vessel in which Cortes had sailed, 
with the unscrupulousness of sea-faring men in 
his day, planned to get ahead of his companion 
ships, that he might anticipate them in trade at 
San Domingo. The fleet touched at the Canaries. 

While they were in harbor, Quintero slipped 
secretly out in the night. He speedily returned, 
however, for he was attacked by a furious storm 
and forced to put in for repairs. The fleet waited 
for him, and finally they all sailed together. 
Nevertheless, as they neared America, Quintero 
again stole away in the night. Again he was at- 
tacked by head winds and storms. The vessel 
was nearly wrecked, and in the danger young 
Cortes is said to have shown, for the first time, 
that courage which was one of the great traits of 
his character. After many weary, stormy days in 
which the captain was heaped with indignant re- 
proaches, a white dove lit upon the vessel, and 
she soon made port to find the other vessels 



36 MONTEZUMA. 

already there, and their cargoes sold. Cortes has- 
tened ashore, and immediately sought the home 
of the governor, who was absent. 

"You will find no trouble in obtaining a lib- 
eral grant of land," said his secretary. 

" But I came to get gold, not to till the soil 
like a peasant," cried the young man. 

After all, however, gold was not to be picked 
up even in the new world, and the road for fresh 
adventure was not always open. Cortes was per- 
suaded to settle down to the management of a 
large grant of land, with the accompanying In- 
dian slaves. He now and then joined Ovando's 
lieutenant, Diego Velasquez, in cruel military 
expeditions, against insurgent natives. Thus the 
young adventurer served an apprenticeship in 
Indian warfare, which was of use to him in the 
future. He was fortunately prevented by an ab- 
scess in the knee, from embarking on Nicuesa's 
unhappy voyage to the mainland. 

The restless young soldier was only too glad 
to accompany Velasquez, when he undertook the 
conquest of the island of Cuba. When the un- 
happy natives were finally subjugated, and Velas- 
quez appointed governor of Cuba, Cortes received 
an office under him. They both soon became in- 
terested in a family of beautiful sisters, who had 



HERNANDO CORTES. 3/ 

settled upon the island. Cortes fell in love with 
one of them, named Catalina Xuarez. It is said 
that he promised to marry her, but delayed to 
do it. The governor who was attached to her 
sister; attempted to force the marriage, but Cortes 
remained obstinate. Whether this story be true 
or not, Cortes certainly fell ou*; with Velasquez, 
and is said to have joined a party of malcon- 
tents, who were for various reasons dissatisfied 
with the governor. They held secret meetings at 
the house of Cortes. Here it wa? determined to 
send their complaints to the authorities at His- 
paniola. With his usual fearless courage, Cortes 
undertook the dangerous passage of an interven- 
ing arm of the sea, in an open boat, that he 
might deliver the despatches. Before he started, 
however, Velasquez discovered the plot, and 
Cortes was seized, fettered and thrown into 
prison. It is even said that the governor wouM 
have hung him, had not his friends interposed. 
The young rebel finally contrived to loo<^en his 
fetters. He then forced a window with his irons, 
and having let himself down from the second 
story of the building in which he was imprisrined, 
he fled to a church, where he clairred the right 
of sanctuary. 

Velasquez was enraged, but he dared not r'o 



38 MONTEZUMA. 

late the sanctity of the church. He lay in wait 
however, hoping to catch the fugitive unawares. 
Cortes one day stood carelessly in front of the 
church, when three men suddenly sprang upon 
him, and again made him prisoner. He was now 
taken on board a vessel, which was to sail in the 
morning for Hispaniola, where he was to be 
tried. With great difficulty, Cortes succeeded 
that very night in passing his feet through the 
shackles. It was very dark, and he cautiously 
slipped upon deck and dropped into a boat that 
lay below. He pushed quietly off, but as he 
neared the shore, the waves became too rough 
for his little bark. He jumped out, and after 
a long battle in the surf, succeeded in reaching 
the beach, where he again fled for refuge to the 
friendly church. Here he made up his mind to 
marry Catalina Xuarez, and thus her family was 
brought to interfere in his behalf. 

The story is told that Velasquez was in the 
interior on a military expedition. He was one 
evening alone, when Cortes suddenly appeared 
before him fully armed. Startled, the governor 
asked the meaning of this. After a hot discus- 
sion the two men became reconciled, embraced, 
and when a messenger arrived in great haste to 
inform Velasquez of the escape of his enemy, 



HERNANDO CORTES. 39 

they were actually found sleeping in the same 
bed. Whether in this dramatic way or not, Ve- 
lasquez and Cortes were certainly reconciled and 
the latter married Catalina. 

Cortes now became the master of a large plan- 
tation with the accompanying slaves, and was ap- 
pointed to the office of magistrate. He also em- 
ployed the slaves in digging gold, and in a short 
time had gained several thousand castellanos. 
" God alone knows at the cost of how many In- 
dian lives," adds an old chronicler who was in 
advance of his time and people, in a hatred of 
slavery. Cortes, however, had no desire to be 
better than others. He thus spent a few quiet 
years in company with his wife " with whom he 
lived just as happily," he said, '*as though she 
had been the daughter of a dutchess. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE SAILING OF THE ARMADA. 

Velasquez, is said to have been "covetous 
of glory, and somewhat more covetous of wealth." 
A viceroy of a viceroy, he in his turn authorized 
voyages of gain and discovery into the more 
western regions. Cordova had sailed in 15 1/, and 
discovered Yucatan, where he was astonished with 
the remarkable remains of a very ancient civiliza- 
tion, which are a wonder even to this day, but 
which he ascribed to the people then living 
there. He was everywhere met with a deadly 
hostility, for the terrible name of the Spaniard 
had preceded him. After suffering great priva^ 
tions and the loss of half his men, Cordova re- 
turned, only to die soon after of his wounds. 
But he had brought back with him ornaments 
of wrought gold, and this was enough to excite 
the avarice and ambition of the numerous adven- 
turers who peopled the colonies of the new 
world. 

Velasquez eagerly fitted out a little squadron 



THE BAILING OF THE ARMADA. 4 1 

which he placed in the hands of Juan de Gri- 
jalva. Sailing from Cuba in 15 18, Grijalva also 
touched first the shores of Yucatan. He coasted 
along north meeting every v/here with resistance 
until he reached one of Montezuma's sea-coast 
provinces. Here the cacique was anxious to get 
some account of the strangers which he might 
send to Montezuma. Grijalva landed with his 
entire force in order to sufficiently impress the 
chief A friendly meeting ensued in which they 
conversed as best they might by signs. The 
curious baubles of civilization were traded for 
the toys of semi-civilization, jewels, golden orna- 
ments and vessels of gold. Thus the news first 
reached Montezuma of the appearance upon his 
borders of white men with thick beards, in won- 
drous ships. 

Grijalva sent the treasures in a caravel back 
to Cuba, and continued his exploring voyage 
somewhat further along the coast. Meanwhile, 
great was the excitement in Cuba on the arrival 
of the rich cargo. When Grijalva finally reached 
the colony it was to be unjustly censured by the 
ambitious Velasquez for not planting a colony 
in the land of the Aztecs upon the spot, and to 
find a new fleet already fitting out for the pur- 
pose. Velasquez had sent his chaplain to Spain 



42 MONTEZUMA. 

with one fifth of the gold, the royal share, and 
begging permission to go on with the discoveries 
upon the main land. Without waiting, however, 
for this, he began to prepare for a new expedi- 
tion, fearing probably lest any one else should be 
before him. The governor now looked about him 
for some one to take command of the fleet, and 
at the same time bear a share of the expense. 

Here was just the opportunity which Cortes 
coveted. He had a warm friendship with Lares 
the royal treasurer and with Duero, the gover- 
nor's secretary. Through their influence he got 
himself recommended to Velasquez as the man 
for the command. Velasquez well knew him to 
be an experienced soldier in the wild warfare of 
the new world, and he therefore made Cortes 
captain-general of the new armada. 

Now indeed had Cortes reached his opportu- 
nity. He threw his heart and soul into the ven- 
ture. His own fortune was freely given, he mort- 
gaged his estates and borrowed from his friends 
to assist in fitting out the fleet. From this mo- 
ment the life of Cortes assumed a consequence 
which it had not before possessed. Instead of 
the wild, rebellious scapegrace, he became a man 
with a purpose. His friends were surprised to 
see in him traits which they had not suspected 



THE SAILING OF THE ARMADA. 43 

in the genial, pleasure-loving young adventurer. 
He was thirty years of age, with bright eyes and 
handsome face, but rather small of stature, ambi- 
tious, avaricious, and somewhat unscrupulous as 
to the ends he used to bring about a desirable 
object, and with a not uncommon incongruity, 
chivalrously devoted to his religion. Neverthe- 
less, he was a remarkable leader of men, and pos- 
sessed a most wonderful tact both in the man- 
agement of friend and foe. There were so many 
incompetent actors in the colonization of the 
new world, that it gives the reader of history a 
real pleasure to turn to one man who always 
knew just what to do in an emergency. 

Cortes soon had an opportunity to use his 
tact. Vain of his new position and anxious to 
draw recruits to him, he had begun to wear a 
plume and to show other signs of rank. The 
jealous suspicion of Velasquez was aroused. Of 
course the viceroy in imitation of greater lords 
possessed a jester. This fellow found it exceeding- 
ly funny to throw gibes at Cortes. As Velasquez 
and Cortes were walking one day toward the port 
to inspect the preparations, the fool called out. 

" Have a care, master Velasquez, or we shall 
have to go a hunting, some day, after this same 
captain of ours." 



44 MONTEZUMA. 

"Do not listen to him," said Cortes, **he is 
a saucy knave and deserves a sound whipping." 

But the fellow persisted in crying out now 
and then, " I swear that I shall go with Corte* 
myself, to these rich lands, that I may not see 
you crying, master Velasquez, at the bad bargain 
you have made." 

Jealousy was already aroused against him 
Cortes saw that he was in danger of losing his 
command. He took great pains to keep always 
near Velasquez, and to show him the utmost de- 
votion. Meantime, the preparations went rapidly 
forward. All was bustle in the little port of San- 
tiago. Recruits flocked in, and nothing was 
talked of but the selling of lands to buy arms 
and horses, the quilting of the cotton mail, so 
serviceable in Indian warfare, and the preparing 
of bread and salt pork for provision on ship- 
board. 

Some gentlemen on the island, among whom 
were the governor's relatives, were jealous of 
Cortes. They took every occasion to excite the 
suspicious disposition of Velasquez, and to remind 
him of their old feud, and of the probability that 
a man who had once rebelled, would be likely 
to take advantage of this new power. Velasquez 
began to regret his appointment. His manner 



THE SAILING OF THE ARMADA. 4^ 

toward his captain-general became cold, and he 
told Lares and Duero, that he intended to re- 
move Cortes. They immediately informed Cortes, 
who saw that the venture upon which he had 
risked everything, was to be ruined at the outset. 
He was neither entirely prepared with vessels, 
men or stores, but he quickly took his resolu- 
tion. He went to the butcher of the town, and 
demanded his whole stock of meat. The man 
remonstrated with him, for the town would be 
destitute of meat for the following day. But 
Cortes insisted on having it, and threw down 
in payment a heavy gold chain which he wore 
around his neck. That very night the men were 
got quietly on board, and the little armada 
dropped down the bay. The town of Santiago 
awoke the next morning to find her much talked 
of fleet already getting under way. According 
to one story, Velasquez, informed of what had 
happened, sprang from his bed and having dressed 
himself hastily, rode down to the shore. Cortes, 
seeing him coming, entered an armed boat and 
i{)proached within speaking distance. 

" And is it thus you part from me ? " cried the 
governor. 

" Pardon me," answered Cortes, " time presses 
and there are some things that should be done 



46 MONTEZUMA. 

before they are even thought of. Has your Ex 
cellency any command?" 

The mortified governor had no commands. 
According to the other version of the story, after 
having so hastily prepared, Cortes went in the 
night and bade Velasquez farewell, leaving him no 
time to make a change in the command of his 
fleet. 

However this may be, Hernando Cortes sailed 
suddenly on the eighteenth of November, 15 18, 
leaving Velasquez to the knowledge that he had 
appointed a most capable man to a post of trust, 
and had then succeeded in alienating him from 
his interest. He despatched letters to the com- 
mander of Trinidad, ordering him to arrest Cortes, 
for he was deposed from the command of the 
fleet, and another man had been appointed in his 
place. Meanwhile the fleet touched at Macaca, 
and Cortes helped himself to such provisions as 
could be procured from the royal farms, consider- 
ing it, he said, as "a loan from the king." 

Cortes next landed at Trinidad. He displayed 
his banner before his quarters. It was a red cross 
surrounded with blue and white flames, upon a 
black velvet ground, and the motto, '^ Let us fol- 
low the cross and in that sign shall we conquer." 

Volunteers immediately flockdd under this 



THE SAILING OF THE ARMADA. 47 

banner. More than a hundred men who had just 
returned from Grijalva's expedition, resolved to 
set out on this new one. A number of hidalgos, 
or gentlemen's sons, also joined Cortes' standard, 
and were welcomed with music and the thunder 
of cannon. Many of them had horses, and he 
who possessed a horse was considered rich in- 
deed. Cortes with his usual free-handedness, 
stripped himself of his gold jewelry, that he 
might buy a horse for a friend who was too poor 
to get one for himself. 

He busied himself, meantime, in procuring the 
necessary stores. A trading-vessel laden with 
grain was announced off the coast. Cortes imme- 
diately ordered her seized, and, having bought 
the vessel and the cargo upon credit, persuaded 
the owner also to join his expedition. This man 
was considered the richest man in the army, as 
he owned a ship, a horse and a negro. 

And now arrived Velasquez' despatches, order- 
ing the arrest of Cortes. But the governor did 
not deem it wise to interfere with so powerful a 
party, lest the town itself might be overwhelmed 
and destroyed. Cortes finally went to Havana, 
desiring to get as many recruits as possible. 
Here he supplied his army with coats of quilted 
cotton, as a defense against Indian arrows. The 



48 MONTEZUMA. 

army was divided into companies, and officers 
appointed. No partiality was shown, but the 
friends of Velasquez were appointed equally with 
his own. Cortes had set about gaining over the 
enemies among his men with wonderful tact 
Diego de Ordaz, who was one of Velasquez' 
household, had been sent out in search of 
another ship, which Cortes had heard of, with 
orders to again join the fleet at a certain point, 
thus freeing the commander from an inconve- 
nient spy at a critical moment. Letters soon 
reached Barba, the governor of Havana, from 
Velasquez, to seize Cortes and stop the fleet, 
But the captain- general had already gained 
Barba's friendship, most of the soldiers were 
ready to die for Cortes, and written commands 
were of no avail. Barba wrote to Velasquez, 
saying that the popularity of Cortes was so great 
that he dared not execute his orders, as the 
town would be sacked, and the inhabitants car- 
ried off* by force, if he attempted it. Cortes ac- 
companied this letter with one of his own, assur- 
ing Velasquez of his eternal devotion to his 
interest, and with the comforting news that he 
wiled the next day 



CHAPTER V. 

THE BATTLE OF TABASCO. 

Cortes had cut the bridge behind him. He 
dared not return to Cuba unless it were after 
such a glorious success as should wipe out all 
past disobedience. A short but stormy voyage 
brought the little armada to the island of Cozu- 
mel, off the coast of Yucatan. The admiral's 
ship arrived last to find that the natives had 
already fled under the harsh treatment of Alva- 
rado, one of the captains, who had captured 
several of them and robbed their temple of its 
trifling ornaments. Cortes was greatly vexed at 
this impolitic course. He immediately called be- 
fore him the captives. His only interpreter was 
an Indian who on a previous voyage had been 
taken to Cuba and had thus learned a little 
Spanish. By this imperfect means Cortes man- 
aged to impress them with his friendliness and 
his desire that the natives should return. A 
more powerful argument was the valueless trifles 
with which he loaded them. The captives were 



50 MONTEZUMA. 

then set free, and numbers of Indians soon 
flocked around the Spaniards anxious to trade 
common gold for new and rare baubles. 

It was one of the objects of this expedition 
to recover some Spaniards who were believed to 
be in captivity, the remains of a former disas- 
trous attempt at colonization. Two vessels were 
now sent in search of these captives, of whom 
Cortes had received some accounts from the 
natives. Meanwhile he explored the island. He 
found it but scantily populated with a poor and 
barbarous people. But what struck him with 
astonishment were the houses and temples of 
stone which are still there, the remains of some 
ancient civilization of which we have no history' 
and for which the Spaniards, of course, could not 
account. 

The Spanish discoverers in the new world 
considered themselves on a crusade; they were 
all knights of the cross. Not the least enthusias- 
tic in this work was Cortes. He was horrified 
at the sight of idol-worship among the natives, 
Immediately the two missionaries who accom- 
panied him were set to work to persuade the 
Indians to allow their idols which were images of 
Satan himself to be thrown down. The natives 
would not listen to any such proposal, for were 



THE BATTLE OF TABASCO. $1 

not these the gods who had always sent them rain 
and sunshine? They assured the Spaniards that, 
if they attempted such a thing, the vengeance of 
the gods would strike them like a thunderbolt. 
But with Cortes, if men would not be converted 
by persuasion, they must be converted by force. 
Without further ado, he commanded the idols to 
be demolished. Zealous Spaniards sprang upon 
them and rolled them headlong down the temple 
btairs amid the horrified groans of their worship- 
ers. A new altar was now hastily raised, an im- 
age of the Virgin placed over it and a crucifix 
erected. The two priests did what they could to 
enlighten the natives as to their new religion 
through the medium of their poor interpreter. 

And now the ships sent in search of the lost 
Spaniards had returned without any news of 
them, much to the disappointment of Cortes. 
The fleet set sail from Cozumel, but it had been 
out but a few hours when one of the ships 
sprang a leak and the Spaniards were forced to 
put back to port. They had not been long in 
port when a large canoe was seen approaching 
from the shores of Yucatan. There was a man 
in it who was to all appearances a native, dark 
and almost naked, like his companions. At sight 
of the white men his first words were, " God, 



52 MONTEZUMA. 

Holy Mary, and Seville," in Spanish, and he sa. 
luted Cortes in the Indian style, by touching his 
hand to the ground and then to his head. He 
was, indeed, one of the captive Spaniards, and 
was received with the greatest joy by Cortes who 
embraced him and threw his own cloak over 
his bare shoulders. The man fell upon his knees 
to thank heaven for his deliverance. It was with 
difficulty that he could recall his own language. 
His name was Aguilar, and his story was a very 
curious one. He and some companions had been 
wrecked upon this coast eight years before. Two 
only of them had escaped from hardship or death 
at the hands of the savages. Aguilar was the 
slave of a cacique to whom he had made him- 
self very valuable. 

His master would hardly have parted with 
him, had it not been for the wondrous beads and 
bells which Cortes had sent by native messengers 
as a ransom for any of their countrymen who 
might be there. The other Spaniard had made 
himself an important man among the Indians by 
planning an attack which they had made upon 
Cordova's expedition. He had an Indian wife 
and children. Aguilar tried to persuade him to 
accompany him to Cortes' vessels. 

"Brother Aguilar," said he, *' I am married, I 



THE BATTLE OF TABASCO, 53 

have three sons and am a cacique and captain in 
the wars. Go you, in God's name ; my face is 
marked and my ears bored. What would those 
Spaniards think of me if I went among them ? 

In other words he was a great man among 
the savages ; among the Spaniards he would be 
but an object of ridicule. Aguilar went alone in 
search of the friendly ships, and found them gone, 
for they had despaired of an answer from the 
embassy which they had sent in search of Span* 
iards. Aguilar's disappointment must have been 
bitter, indeed, but when he heard of the unex- 
pected return of the fleet he hastened joyfully 
to Cozumel. He was a most valuable acquisi- 
tion to Cortes, who was sadly in need of a good 
interpreter. 

Cortes next touched at the mouth of the 
Tabasco river, which he found too shallow to 
admit the fleet. With a part of his men he 
embarked in boats and the shallower vessels and 
began the exploration of the river. He could 
see the natives moving among the net work of 
mangrove trees which lined the bank, and was 
astonished to find their gestures anything but 
friendly. Though he had no especial interest in 
delaying at this spot, it was part of his policy 
never to appear intimidated. He encamped for 



54 MONTEZUMA. 

the night on an island and awoke in the morn- 
ing to find the opposite banks lined with an 
immense concourse of savages, decked for battle. 
Upon the water's edge was a vanguard of canoes 
filled with warriors. 

Cortes landed a detachment of his forces upon 
a narrow road which led by a roundabout way to 
the town. He led the remainder in boats straight 
up toward the Indian canoes. Then, as his orders 
bound him to do, he caused a pompous notice of 
warning to be delivered to the Indians through 
the interpreter. This, however, was only answered 
with whoops of defiance and a shower of arrows. 
Having relieved their consciences the Spaniards 
fell to work. They were soon grappling with the 
Indians. Both white men and savages were 
quickly in the water up to their middles, fight- 
ing hand to hand. The savages retired and ad- 
vanced, harrassing their more cumbersome enemies 
who were forced to wade through very deep mud 
on shore. Cortes lost one of his buskins in this 
adventure and came out barefooted, but he gave 
the battle cry, *' St. lago," and the Spaniards 
sprang upon the Indians with redoubled vigor. 
They fell back behind a breastwork of timber, 
From this they were driven into their town. 
Rallying behind a barricade, the Indians now 



THE BATTLE OF TABASCO. 55 

fought fiercely. The Spaniards called on the 
name of their patron saint, and the savages cried 
" kill the chief," at the same time filling the air 
with their hideous yells. Just ct this moment 
the detachment which had been sent around by 
land rushed upon the scene, and the combined 
forces soon succeeded in driving the Indians, who 
fought bravely as they fell back. The Spaniards 
captured their village, but did not pursue them 
further. 

Cortes now gave three cuts with his sword on 
a great tree which stood in the centre of the 
town, announcing that he took possession of the 
place in his majesty's name, and was ready to 
defend his majesty's claim against any who 
should dispute it. This step was formally wit- 
nessed by a royal notary. Cortes' friends ad- 
mired the chivalric ceremony, but the friends of 
Velasquez murmured. The commander now pre- 
pared his quarters for the night in the temple. 
He posted sentinels and took every means to 
guard against surprise. An ominous silence 
reigned in the surrounding country. The In 
dian interpreter, on whom Cortes had depended 
before the arrival of Aguilar, had fled and left 
his Spanish clothes hanging upon a tree. Now, 
indeed, Cortes was uneasy, for he knew that the 



$6 MONTEZUMA. 

enemy would be informed of the small numbers 
of the Spaniards and be undeceived with regard 
to their supposed marvelous power. 

Morning came and nothing had been seen of 
the enemy. Cortes sent out a detachment under 
Alvarado to reconnoiter. They soon came flying 
back with the Indians at their heels. Cortes 
sallied forth and drove back the pursuers, taking 
a few prisoners. From these he learned that the 
Indians were assembled in great numbers, de- 
termined on resistance. Cortes now made rapid 
preparations for battle. The wounded were sent 
on shipboard, while six cannons and the horses 
were landed. The animals were at first stiff from 
their long confinement, but a few hours exercise 
restored them to high spirits. 

Again night came on. It was a restless night 
for Cortes, on the eve of the first battle of his 
expedition. Several times he rose and made the 
rounds, to see that his sentinels were all at their 
posts. At break of day he aroused his men, tell- 
ing them that they would not wait for the 
enemy, but go to meet them. The command of 
the infantry was given to Diego de Ordaz, who 
was to march directly across the country to the 
enemy's encampment. Cortes himself, commanded 
the cavalry, and fetching a circuitous route 



THE BATTLE OF TABASCO. $7 

would attack the enemy in the rear. All being 
ready, mass was said and the march began. 
Plantations of Indian corn and cacao covered the 
intervening country, which was intersected with 
numerous canals, rendering the progress of the 
army very toilsome. The cannons were dragged 
over narrow causeways, and the men plunged and 
floundered on for several miles, until they came 
in sight of the dusky throng of warriors. The 
Indian forces were advantageously situated on a 
broad plain. As the Spaniards toiled slowly on- 
ward through a deep marsh, the yells of the 
natives arose, accompanied by showers of arrows 
and stones falling upon the defenceless heads of 
the infantry, and wounding many of them. When 
they succeeded in reaching firm land however, 
their artillery aimed at the dense, disorderly rank 
of Indians, mowed them down in great numbers. 
Still undismayed, they threw up dust and leaves 
to conceal their losses, and, filling the air with 
their wild cries, made a fierce resistance. They 
pressed the Spaniards close. Now they were 
driven back, and again their immense numbers 
pressed forward, for they were brave warriors, 
much superior to the more effeminate natives 
who had been easily conquered upon the islands. 
The Spaniards were almost overwhelmed by num- 



58 MONTEZUMA. 

bers. Every moment their position became more 
cramped, and they had not room to work their 
artillery effectively. Still the longed-for cavalry 
had made no appearance. Finally, they could 
see the distant Indians thrown into disorder. 
The agitation quickly communicated itself to the 
mass like a wave. The Spaniards* hearts leaped 
with joy as they heard the well-known battle-cry, 
*' San lago and San Pedro," " St. James and St. 
Peter." Soon they could discern the helmets of 
their companions glaring in the sun, as the horse- 
men came dashing through the Indian ranks, 
dealing deadly blows on all sides. The brave 
natives could withstand even the terror of fire- 
arms, but these wondrous animals with their iron 
feet and their gayly-armed riders, so firmly seated 
that they seemed a part of them, filled them 
with superstitious dread. The battle was won, for 
it needed not the charge of the infantry to dispel 
the foe. Cortes wisely refrained from entangling 
himself farther by pursuit, for he had already ex- 
perienced great difficulty in reaching the battle- 
ground. 

He released the prisoners that had been 
taken, with a message to their countrymen to 
come immediately and offer submission, or he 
would ride over the country and put man, 



THE BATTLE OF TABASCO. 59 

woman and child to the sword. An embassy of 
the Indians quickly appeared with a present of 
twenty female slaves for the conquerors. By the 
exchange of beads and bells, food and cotton 
were procured from the natives, with a few gold 
ornaments. Cortes asked them where they got 
the precious metal. " Mexico " was their answer. 



CHAPTER VI. 

DONNA MARINA. 

Gold-hunger was the passion of the white 
man who first explored the coast of the new 
world. Finding the precious metal so scarce at 
Tabasco, Cortes doubtless regretted his waste of 
time, the wounds of his men, of whom he had 
lost several, and the injuries of his horses. But, 
without knowing it, he had acquired something 
of more service to him than loads of gold. 

Among the twenty female slaves presented to 
the conquerors, was the daughter of an Aztec 
cacique or chief. Her father had died when 
she was a child, and her mother had married 
another chief, by whom she had a son. Desiring to 
secure the inheritance to the son, they had secret- 
ly sold the girl, pretending that she was dead, 
and celebrating for her's, the funeral of a slave 
child with mock sorrow. She was carried to Tabas- 
co where she was resold, and thus finally fell into 
the hands of the Spaniards. They, with the crooked 
piety of the day, insisted first on the baptism 



DONNA MARINA. 6l 

of the poor girls, who were given Christian names, 
and then distributed by Cortes among his cavaliers. 
The chiefs daughter was christened Marina, and 
fell to the share of a cavalier named Puertocarrero. 
Cortes also planned to bring about a hasty- 
conversion of the Tabascans, at the same time 
that the slaves were baptized. The priests who 
accompanied the expedition did their best to ex- 
plain their religion to the natives, who were ren- 
dered docile converts by their late chastisement. 
The following day was Palm Sunday, and Cortes 
determined to celebrate it by a monster conver- 
sion. The priests led a brilliant procession of 
Spaniards bearing palm-branches, and followed by 
an immense concourse of Indians, to the large In- 
dian temple, where an altar had been erected, and 
an image of the virgin and child put in place of 
the old idol. Mass was celebrated and the chant 
was sung by the Spaniards. The ceremony was 
doubtless very impressive to the simple minds of 
the natives. But they were hastily treated only 
to the outside, and not to the essence of religion, 
of which last, indeed, the Spaniards were not 
good examples. The conquerors, however, doubt- 
less felt much satisfaction as they embarked for 
a more golden land, bearing with them the corise 
crated palm branches. 



62 MONTEZUMA. 

Marina, or Donna Marina, as she was always 
respectfully called, proved to be a remarkable 
woman. She had a fine figure, and was frank 
prompt and fearless. More than this, she was 
very intelligent and quick in learning a new 
tongue. Deserted of her own kindred, she de- 
voted herself with warm affection to the Span- 
iards. By birth she spoke the Mexican tongue, 
and also learned the Tabascan, which was the 
only Indian language that Aguilar understood. 
Cortes could thus address his speech to Aguilar 
in Spanish, who translated it into Tabascan for 
Donna Marina, and she, in her turn, changed it 
into Mexican. By this roundabout route, the 
general was furnished with means of communica- 
ting with the Aztecs, without which he could not 
have carried out his great scheme. But Donna 
Marina soon learned to speak Spanish also. She 
was a person of great importance to the com- 
mander, who was scarcely ever seen without her. 
Finally, when her master returned to Spain, 
Cortes took her himself, and she became the 
mother of his son, Don Martin Cortes. After the 
conquest she was married to a cavalier. Accom- 
panying one of the expeditions of discovery, in 
which she was still valuable. Donna Marina is 
said to have met her mother and half brother. 



DONNA MARINA. 63 

They were much terrified when they saw her, 
expecting to be punished for their former cruelty, 
but she freely forgave them, and made them a 
present of gold. This is, in brief, the domestic 
history of Donna Marina, who was destined to be 
the means of the downfall of her people. 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE SPANIi^RDS IN THE KINGDOM OF MONTEZUMA, 

Though for a year Montezuma had heard 
nothing of the strangers who had touched his 
coast, his mind was filled with vague apprehen- 
sions. He posted sentinels along the heights of 
the sea-coast, and ordered Teuhtlile, the cacique 
of the sea-coast province where Grijalva had 
landed, to send him a careful description of the 
strange beings when they returned. Accordingly, 
when a Spanish fleet again appeared upon the 
shores of Mexico in the spring of 15 19, the ships 
had scarcely anchored before a canoe filled with 
natives darted forth and paddled along-side of 
the admiral's ship. The Indians came fearlessly 
on board. Cortes was greatly disappointed when 
he found that the dialect which Aguilar had 
learned bore little resemblance to the Mexican 
tongue, and it was then that he discovered Don- 
na Marina's importance. Some one informed him 
that there was a woman among the slaves who 
understood Mexican. By the combination of the 



IN THE KINGDOM OF MONTEZUMA. 65 

t\^o interpreters the commander was soon con- 
versing freely with the natives. They told Cortes 
that they were subjects of a great king, called 
Montezuma, or as it was properly pronounced by 
the Indians, Moc-theu-zoma. Their king, they 
said, lived in the tablelands of the mountains, 
some seventy leagues in-land. Their province 
was a recent conquest of this great king and 
their local cacique, Teuhtlile, lived about eight 
leagues away. Cortes told them that he had 
come on a friendly mission and wished to see 
their cacique. He did not forget to inquire for 
gold. They answered that there was a great deal 
of it in the interior. 

Enough had now been discovered to induce 
the Spaniards to remain. They landed on the 
following day on the dreary, sandy beach where 
the modern city of Vera Cruz now stands. The 
Spaniards immediately set to work to make them 
a shelter from the burning tropical sun. They 
planted stakes in the ground on which they built 
a roof of branches covered with the mats and 
cotton cloth which the friendly natives brought 
them. Their fame spread far and wide in the 
neighboring country and the natives flocked to 
see them, bringing, with unbounded hospitality, 
offerings of flowers, fruits, vegetables and cooked 



^ MONTEZUMA. 

dishes. They also brought little articles of gold^ 
which they were anxious to exchange for Span- 
ish gewgaws. A lively trade was constantly car- 
ried on, and the Spanish camp became a gay fair. 

Teuhtlile now announced by messengers that 
he would visit Cortes on the following day. He 
appeared at the appointed time with a throng of 
attendants. Cortes met him and conducted him 
to his tent. Father Olmedo, the chaplain, now 
celebrated mass, the more to impress the Indian 
governor. After mass, dinner was served, and 
Teuhtlile tasted for the first time European wines 
and confectionery. These two ceremonies having 
passed off solemnly and in silence, Aguilar and 
Donna Marina were introduced, and a conversa- 
tion began. 

" I have come in the name of the great Mon- 
tezuma," said Teuhtlile, " to inquire why you have 
come to his country?" 

" I have come," answered Cortes, " from the 
most powerful monarch in the world, whose em- 
pire is immense and who has kings and princes 
for his vassals. He has heard of the great Mon- 
tezuma and has sent me to him with a message 
and a present which I must deliver in person." 

"You are scarcely arrived in this country," 
cried Teuhtlile indignantly, "and yet you desire 



IN THE KINGDOM OF MONTEZUMA. 67 

immediately to see our king ! I am surprised 
that there should be in the whole world another 
king as powerful as he. But you say it is so and 
I will make it known to my sovereign that he 
may do his messenger honor." 

Teuhtlile turned and addressed a word to his 
slaves who brought forward the present designed 
for Cortes. It was two loads of fine cotton 
garments, some mantles made of gorgeous feath- 
ers and a little wicker basket containing gold 
ornaments. Cortes in turn presented the gover- 
nor with glass diamonds, and brought forward a 
present which he designed for Montezuma. It 
was an arm chair, carved and painted, a crimson 
cap, a gold medal stamped with the figures 
of St. George and the dragon, some artificial 
jewels wrapped in perfumed cotton, and strings 
of cut glass beads which would be much admired 
in a country where glass was unknown. He 
asked Teuhtlile to send these to the king, and 
ask permission for the strangers to come and 
see him. 

Cortes saw that, while this conversation was 
going on, some Indians were busily occupied in 
painting on paper. They were the hieroglyphical 
painters of the country where the only writing 
was a system of picture representation. With 



6S MONTEZUMA. 

rapid strokes they were delineating the genera, 
appearance of the white men, their grey-hounds, 
their guns, and their cannon-balls. This manu- 
script was to be sent to the great monarch that 
he might have some idea of the strangers who 
had landed on his coast. Cortes quickly saw that 
it was to his interest to have the pictures as 
astounding as possible. He ordered the cavalry 
out for exercise, finely caparisoned and wearing 
poitrals, or plates of armor on their breasts from 
which hung bells. 

" If we could have a charge upon the sand 
hills," said Cortes it would be good ; but they 
will see that we sink into the mire. Let us go 
to the shore where the tide is going out and 
make a charge upon the wet sands, two abreast." 

After the cavalry charge the cacique was 
treated to a discharge of artillery at which he 
greatly wondered. The painters rapidly put down 
what they saw. Meantime a gilt helmet on the 
head of one of the soldiers, attracted the eye 
of the cacique. He said that he would like 
Montezuma to see it for it looked like, one 
upon the head of the god Quetzalcoatl at Mexico. 
Cortes said that it should be sent to the king, 
and at the same time suggested that it might 
b^ returned filled with gold dust, for he 



IN THE KINGDOM OF MONTEZUMA. 69 

wished to compare it with the gold of his own 
country. 

" Indeed,** said he, " we Spaniard^ are troubled 
with a disease of the heart for which ^old is the 
only cure." 

Teuhtlile now took leave of the strangers 
promising to return shortly with the kings an- 
swer. He immediately forwarded the Spanish 
present, together with the paintings and an ac- 
count of his interview, to Mexico. Great was the 
concern of Montezuma when he thus received in 
telligence of the arrival of the strange armada 
with its still stranger inhabitants, their horsemen 
and explosive cannons. He was in the greatest 
perplexity as to how to receive them. Brave 
warrior though he was, he dared not offer them 
hostility lest they should be indeed messengers 
of the gods. His superstition stood in the way 
of the defence of his country. When he con- 
sulted his idols, they or rather the priests, are 
said to have answered that the strangers were on 
no account to be admitted to the realm, but on 
the other hand some of his counsellors argued 
that it would be best to receive them well for if 
they were, as it seemed, supernatural creatures 
it would be of no use to resist them. In miser- 
able indecision, the unhappy monarch resolved 



70 MONTEZUMA. 

to take a middle course. His own hospitable 
and open handed disposition could not refuse 
them a friendly reception upon his shores, though 
he determined to forbid any nearer approach to 
the ro}'aI presence. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

MONTEZUMA'S GIFT. 

The Spanish army suffered much from swarms 
of mosquitoes and the heat of the sun beating 
upon the bare sands. By order of Teuhtlile, many 
of the natives came and built them tents of 
boughs near the strangers, that they might supply 
them with food. Cortes and his officers were 
furnished with fish, cooked in various ways, 
corn cakes and the delicious fruits and vegeta- 
bles of the tropics. The common soldiers also 
easily procured all they wanted, in exchange for 
trifles. 

At the end of seven days, ambassadors re- 
turned with Montezuma's answer. Teuhtlile ac- 
companied them to the Spanish camp. He, with 
two Aztec nobles, headed a procession of nearly 
a hundred slaves, bearing Montezuma's present. 
The nobles saluted Cortes in the usual way, by 
touching their hands to the ground and then to 
their heads. Slaves swung censors of incense, 
while one of the ambassadors made a speech. 



^2 MONTEZUMA. 

" The king," said he, " congratulates you on 
your happy arrival in his country. He is glad to 
know that such brave men have landed in his 
kingdom, and of the news you bring him from so 
great a monarch. In token of his pleasure at the 
gift which you sent, he returns it with this.'* 

Some slaves came forward and spread upon 
the ground fine mats and cotton cloths, upon 
which they laid, first, a great circular plate of 
gold " as large as a cart wheel," and carved with 
various figures, in the midst of which was the 
sun. This was a sort of calendar or hieroglyphic 
representation of the Aztec cycle. There was a 
similar plate of silver, and then came the Spanish 
helmet, filled to the brim with gold dust. Some 
thirty loads of fine cotton cloth, collars of gold, 
crests of brilliant feathers and birds, and animals 
made of gold and silver, were laid before Cortes. 
The Spaniards looked on in open-eyed astonish- 
ment. Their delight at this display of rich mate- 
rial and fine workmanship was intense. 

" This present," said the ambassador, " my 
king sends you. You may remain upon his 
shores as long as is necessary to rest from your 
journey. But, as for your demand to visit his 
city, he must forbid you that, as the journey lies 
through the countries of enemies, and is exceed- 



MONTEZUMA*S GIFT. 73 

ingly difficult. Nothing remains but for you to 
return.*' 

Swallowing his disappointment at Montezuma's 
refusal of a permission to visit him, Cortes 
offered his thanks for the king's magnificent pres- 
ent, *' which makes me only the more desirous," 
said he, "to meet him in person. I dare not in- 
deed present myself before my own sovereign 
without having accomplished this, the object of 
my voyage. We who have sailed over two thou- 
sand leagues of sea, think little of the perils and 
fatigues of a short journey by land." 

Cortes had exhausted his own magnficence 
on his first present to Montezuma. He managed 
to gather together some fine Holland shirts, a 
Florentine goblet ornamented with gilt, and a few 
trinkets. These he requested the ambassador to 
take to his king, with the above answer. The 
noble received them rather coldly and departed. 

The general now saw that he had made a dis- 
astrous choice for a settlement. To this day, the 
entrance to Mexico is through a dangerous land 
cf malarial fevers. Cortes had already lost thirty 
of his men, while he was in daily danger of los- 
ing his vessels from the fury of the north winds, 
which swept the coast from time to time. While 
waiting for Montezuma's answer, he therefore des- 



74 MONTEZUMA. 

patched one of his captains, Francisco de Mon- 
tejo, in search of a better harbor and camping 
ground. 

Within ten days the Mexican embassy re- 
turned with a present of gold ornaments, valued 
at three thousand ounces of gold, ten bales of 
feather mantles and four jewels, resembling emer- 
alds, greatly prized by the Actecs, but entirely 
valueless among Europeans. Montezuma had sent 
word that he wished his visitor's happiness, but 
that he desired no more messages sent him, nor 
did he wish to hear any more propositions to 
visit Mexico." 

Cortes answered courteously, but he turned to 
his men and exclaimed, " Truly this is a great 
monarch and rich ; yet it shall go hard but we 
will one day pay him a visit in his capital." 

At this moment the bell tolled for Ave Maria, 
and instantly all the soldiers dropped on their 
knees before a large wooden cross on the sandy 
beach. The Mexican ambassadors looked on 
with astonishment. Cortes, whose religion was 
strangely mixed with his avarice, immediately de- 
termined to make a first stroke against idolatry. 
He hinted to Father Olmedo that now was the 
time to deliver a sermon. The priest thereupon 
began explaining the mysteries of the Catholic 



MONTEZUMA'S GIFT. 75 

faith, and informing the Mexicans that one of 
their objects in coming to this country was to 
abolish idolatry and human sacrifice. It is to be 
feared that the discourse did not have its desired 
effect. The ambassadors took a cold leave of the 
Spaniards. 

Montezuma was determined to rid himself of 
his pertinacious guests. He had ordered that the 
hospitable mode of victualling the army should 
be immediately discontinued. Consequently the 
invaders arose one morning to find the friendly 
array of native tents entirely deserted. The 
Spaniards were alarmed, and nightly expected an 
attack, but none was meditated by the indulgent 
king. Unfortunately, in his princely magnificence, 
the latter had let the Spaniards into the secret 
of his wealth, and at the same time shown his 
own indecision of character. 



CHAPTER IX. 

** THE RICH TOWN OF THE TRUE CROSS." 

The elation of the Spaniards at Montezuma's 
rich gifts, was succeeded by discontent at the 
privations which they now suffered. Montejo, 
however, returned in a few days to announce 
that he had discovered one passable harbor, and 
this was furnished with a pleasant camping 
ground. But now arose various troubles for Cor- 
tes. His men were not well-disciplined soldiers, 
accustomed to obey their officers, but a band of 
adventurers and gold-seekers, considering their 
general as an equal. Moreover, there was among 
them a party devoted to the interests of Velas- 
quez. The commission of Cortes from the gov- 
ernor had now indeed been fulfilled. Velasquez 
had not the power to authorize colonization, until 
he had received the authority from Spain, for 
which Cortes had not waited. But Cortes even 
now revolved great schemes in his mind, which 
would have frightened his followers had he im 
parted them Meantime, in the face of Monte 



**THE RICH TOWN OF THE TRUE CROSS." ^^ 

zuma's displeasure and great power, it seemed 
indeed ridiculous to attempt to carry them out. 

At this juncture, five natives were seen ap- 
proaching the camp, of a different dress and ap- 
pearance from the Mexicans. They were ambas- 
sadors from Cempoalla, a town of the Totonacs, 
a people who had been recently conquered by 
the Mexicans. They brought the strangers a 
friendly greeting. Cortes found that they were 
dissatisfied with the Mexican rule, which they 
found very oppressive. This was joyful news to 
the general, who saw in the possibility of rebell- 
ion among Montezuma's subjects, an opening for 
his plans. He treated his guests with the great- 
est consideration, promising soon to visit their 
chief. But now his schemes seemed likely to be 
overthrown in his own camp. 

" It is time to return," muttered the soldiers, 
"and report what has been done to the governor 
of Cuba. What is the use of lingering on these 
barren shores, until we have brought the whole 
Mexican empire on our heads ? " 

To such complaints Cortes made soft answers, 
and thus calmed for a time the rising discontent. 
Had he not been the most wily of manceuvrers, 
his enterprise must now have fallen through. But 
he had warm friends as well as persistent ene- 



78 MONTEZUMA. 

mies, and he knew how to use his friends to the 
best advantage. The cavaliers, Puertocarrero, 
Olid, Avilla and Alvarado worked busily and 
secretly among the troops on behalf of the 
general. 

" Here we are," said they ; " we have been 
persuaded to go on this expedition as colonists 
and now we find that Cortes has no commission 
except for trade. The friends of Velasquez want 
us to return to Cuba with what little we have 
gained, that the greedy governor may grasp it all 
and we remain as poor as we were before. Come 
let us form a colony for his majesty and elect 
Cortes captain." Secretly as these conferences 
were carried on, the friends of Velasquez soon 
got wind of them. They loudly remonstrated, 
accusing Cortes of being at the bottom of them, 
and demanding that he should immediately pre- 
pare to sail for Cuba. 

" Nothing is farther from my thoughts than 
to exceed my instructions," was Cortes concilia- 
tory answer. " I do indeed prefer to remain in 
the country and continue our profitable trade. 
But since the army thinks otherwise I shall cer- 
tainly defer to your opinion." 

Those who had most desired it were thun- 
derstruck when, on the following morning, procia- 



''THE RICH TOWN OF THE TRUE CRwISS. 79 

mation was made for the army to prepare im- 
mediately to embark for Cuba. They now re* 
fleeted that they were likely to meet only rebuke, 
like Grijalva, on their arrival at the island. 

" We are betrayed by the general," cried Cortes* 
friends. They thronged around him. " We came 
here," they exclaimed, " expecting to form a set- 
tlement, if the state of the country authorized 
it. Now it seems you have no commission from 
the governor to make one. But there are inter- 
ests higher than those of Velasquez, which de- 
mand it. These lands do not belong to him, but 
were discovered for the emperor. It is necessary 
to plant a colony to watch over his interests in- 
stead of wasting time in barter, or, still worse, of 
returning now to Cuba. If you refuse, we shall 
protest against your conduct as disloyal." 

Cortes appeared embarrassed. He meekly 
asked time for consideration, and promised to 
answer on the following day. At the appointed 
time he made the army a little speech declaring 
his willingness, as they demanded it, to settle a 
colony for the emperor. He then nominated a 
magistracy in which he took care to include 
Montejo, one of the opposite faction. They were 
sworn into office, and the new-born city dubbed 
Villa Rica de Vera Cruz, or The Rich Town of 



80 MONTEZUMA. 

the True Cross, one of the curious names of the 
Spaniards typical of their own mixture of avarice 
and religious zeal. 

The magistrates immediately assembled, and 
Cortes presented himself before them throwing 
his commission from Velasquez upon the table 
and tendering the resignation of his office as cap- 
tain-general. He then left the body to its delib- 
erations. In the course of an hour he was re- 
called, reinstated as captain-general. He was to 
have one fifth of the gold and silver hereafter 
procured from the natives. Cortes at first seemed 
reluctant to accept the office, but the Spanish 
proverb runs, " you may entreat me to do that 
which I like to do," and he was again prevailed 
upon. 

Now, indeed, did the Velasquez party find 
themselves outwitted. Great was their angry dis- 
gust. They accused the opposite party of all 
kinds of villainy. The accusation was returned 
with interest, and the factions were likely to 
come to blows when Cortes interfered with the 
iron hand which had been so carefully concealed 
under a velvet paw in the late proceedings. He 
put the leaders of the opposition, Velasquez de 
Leon, a relative of the governor, his page, Esco- 
bar and Diego de Ordaz into irons, and sent 



"THE RICH TOWN OF THE TRUE CROSS." 8 1 

them on board the vessels. He then occupied 
some of the rebellious troops, thus deprived of 
a head on a foraging expedition. While they 
were gone, every effort was made to gain over 
the men in favor of Cortes. ** Gold which breaks 
the solid rocks," says Bernal Diaz, was lavished 
liberally, for Cortes was not above bribery, and 
when the foragers returned with plenty of poul- 
try and vegetables, and all had eaten heartily, 
the two factions consented to a reconciliation 
and, with the volatility of the Latin race, em- 
braced all around. With active address, Cortes 
devoted himself to winning the affections of his 
men. He soon brought out his prisoners and, 
leleasing them, succeeded in gaining them over 
to his interest. Much of this was done, it is said 
"by the softening effects of gold." Thus Mon- 
t'zuma's treasure served to bind together his 
cnemici the more strongly. 



CHAPTER X, 

CORTES DECEIVES MONTEZUMA. 

The artillery was now loaded into the vessels 
which were to coast as far north as Chiahuitzla, 
the port that had been chosen for the new settle- 
ment. Meanwhile, Cortes would march around by 
land, making his intended visit to the cacique of 
Cempoalla. The army soon left behind, the 
dreary sand-hills which had so long bounded 
their horizon, and entered upon a fertile country, 
clothed with the rank vegetation of the tropics, 
and abounding in game. They passed through 
several villages, which the inhabitants had de- 
serted at their approach. In the temples they 
found books of paper, made from the fibre of 
the magney, and to their horror, the remains of 
human sacrifice. 

As the Spaniards neared Cempoalla, they, were 
met by a delegation of the principal citizens of 
the town, who presented Cortes and the cavalry 
with bunches of sweet-scented flowers. They in- 
vited the strangers to their town, and excused 



CORTES DECEIVES MONTEZUMA. 83 

their cacique for not having come to meet them, 
as he was very fat and unwieldy. The Spaniards 
were met by crowds of natives before they 
reached the town. The women of the better class 
wore robes of fine cotton, reaching from the neck 
to the ankles. The men wore a wide sash about 
the loins, and all were adorned with ear, nose and 
lip jewels. The Spaniards had not yet seen a 
Mexican city. Some of the cavaliers galloped 
ahead to get a glimpse of Cempoalla. It lay 
glistening in the sun, the poorer houses white- 
washed, and the palaces covered with polished 
stucco. Instantly one of the cavaliers wheeled, 
put spurs to his horse, and returned to the army. 
** The city is built of silver, the city is built of 
silver," cried he. 

A wave of excitement ran through the troops, 
for whom nothing was too romantic for belief in 
this new world. In a few minutes, however, they 
reached the " silver city," and all joined in a 
hearty laugh at the expense of the cavalier. In 
future, he was often reminded that anything 
white was silver in his eyes. The '* fat cacique ** 
as the Spaniards called him, met Cortes in the 
city square. He leaned for support on two at- 
tendants. He received the Spaniards courteously, 
and assigned them some of the public buildings 



84 MONTEZUMA. 

to live in. They were delighted to find them- 
selves in very comfortable quarters, the better ap- 
preciated after their life in camp. They were 
now feasted with maize bread and baskets of 
plums. Though he believed himself among 
friends, the wise general took every precaution 
for security. 

When the Spaniards were rested and refreshed, 
the "fat cacique," held an interview with Cortes, 
The general embraced the chief, who presented 
him with some gold and mantles. Cortes, as 
usual, made a speech in praise of his monarch 
and religion. The fat chief sighed, and made 
bitter complaints of the harshness of '* the great 
Montezuma," whose tax-gatherers took from them 
all their treasure, and whose armies swept down 
upon a rebellious province, carrying away the 
young men and maidens for sacrifice. Cortes said 
that he would free him from this detestable yoke 
and the chief made a *' discreet " answer, desir- 
ous not to compromise himself. 

On the following day the Spaniards moved 
on. The fat cacique sent with them several, hun- 
dred Indians to carry their baggage. It was cus- 
tomary in this country where there were no beasts 
of burden, thus to aid friendly travellers on theii 
way. 



CORTES DECEIVES MONTEZUMA. 8$ 

The town of Chiahuitzla was perched upon 
a rocky cliff. The inhabitants had fled at the 
approach of the Spaniards, but fifteen of the 
principal Indians met them in the public square, 
and told them that the people would return when 
they were reassured. The Spaniards had been 
here but a short time, when they were followed 
by the fat chief, born upon a litter. He wished, 
it seemed, to do further honors to his visitors. 
While they were conversing upon the tyranny of 
the Aztec king, a messenger rushed in, greatly 
excited, to tell the chief that Montezuma's tax- 
gathers were coming. The natives turned pale, 
according to the account, and went tremblingly 
to receive them. 

The royal tax-gatherers soon passed by the 
Spaniards with great pomp. They were five 
Mexican nobles. Their glossy, black hair was 
tied in a knot on top of their heads. They wore 
drawers and mantles, richly ornamented. Each 
one carried a bunch of flowers in his hand, of 
which he occasionally smelled with great dignity. 
They were attended by servants, who fanned 
them and carried their official rods, a sort of 
hooked stick with a cord fastened to it. They 
passed by Cortes without deigning to look upon 
him. The poor fat chief felt that they had comr 



86 MONTEZUMA. 

upon him at an inopportune moment* All haste 
was made to prepare lodgings and chocolate for 
these persons. Numbers of the principal citizens 
attended them at dinner, and were only too offi- 
cious in anticipating their wishes. When their 
lordships had refreshed themselves, they sent for 
the fat cacique and his fellow officers. They rep- 
rimanded them severely for receiving and enter- 
taining the Spaniards, contrary to Montezuma's 
express commands. In expiation, they were told 
that they must supply twenty slaves for sacri- 
fice in Mexico. 

The natives came to Cortes with the news of 
this fresh act of tyranny. He indignantly com- 
manded them to arrest and imprison the Aztec 
nobles. They were terrified at the idea, but Cortes 
was determined upon it, and the deed was finally 
done according to his wish. At midnight the 
wily general secretly released two of them and 
had them brought before him. 

"What country do you belong to, and why 
are you made prisoners?" innocently inquired the 
general through Marina. 

** We are Montezuma's officers, and have been 
seized by the people of Chiahuitzla who were 
aided and abetted in it by you," haughtily an- 
swered the Mexican nobles. 



CORTES DECEIVES MONTEZUMA. 8/ 

" I assure you I know nothing of it, and am 
very sorry it has happened," answered Cortes. 

To prove this, he feasted them and treated 
them with the utmost kindness. He told them 
to go and tell Montezuma that he wished to be 
his friend and servant, promising at the same 
time that he would release their companions and 
reprimand the rebellious cacique. They told him 
that they dared not pass through the country of 
the rebels. Cortes then sent them by boat to a 
part of the coast which was not under the domin- 
ion of the " fat cacique." 

Great was the anger of the Totonacs at the 
escape of the two nobles. They were determined 
on sacrificing the remainder of their prisoners, of 
whom they had stood in such awe, but a few 
hours before. To prevent this, Cortes took the 
captive Mexicans under his own custody and put 
them on board his vessels where he left them 
unbound, and treated them with the utmost 
kindness, promising soon to release them entirely. 
The fat cacique and the other Totonac officers 
were now frightened at what they had done. It 
would be of no avail to beg the forgiveness of 
their affronted king. Cortes urged them to swear 
allegiance to the king of Spain. They complied, 
since he had them in a position where they could 



88 MONTEZUMA. 

not do otherwise. The news spread rapidly 
through the surrounding country. There was a 
mixture of joy, amazement and terror in the feel- 
ings of the natives at the daring acts of their 
rulers. 

The Spaniards set about the building of their 
new city, half a league from Chiahuitzla. The 
ground for a church, square, arsenal, and fort were 
soon traced out, and the Spaniards went busily to 
work, assisted by the natives, to raise the build- 
ings. Most active among them all, carrying stones 
and digging foundations, was Hernando Cortes, 
inspiring all by his energy. 

Meantime swift couriers had brought Monte- 
zuma intelligence of the revolt among the 
Totonacs. With quick decision, this time, he 
mustered two armies, one to punish the rebels 
and a second to march against the Spaniards. 
Just as they were setting out from Mexico the 
two fugitive tax-gatherers arrived. Their report of 
the kindly offices of Cortes in their behalf molli- 
fied the king, and with subsiding indignation, his 
superstitious fears of the strangers returned. Re- 
suming his former half-way policy, Montezuma 
resolved for the present to forego any interference 
with his unwelcome visitors. He sent two young 
princes, his nephews, and some old nobles as am- 



CORTES DECEIVES MONTEZUMA. 89 

bassadors to the Spanish camp. With his usual 
munificence he sent with them a valuable present 
of gold and feather mantles. 

On arriving at the new Spanish settlement the 
ambassadors thanked Cortes in the name of their 
sovereign for his courtesy to the Mexican officers. 
They complained, however, that he had insti- 
gated the Totonacs to the rebellion for which the 
king would punish the latter at some future 
time. Montezuma, they said, was convinced that 
they were the strangers mentioned in an ancient 
prophecy and that their ancestors were the same 
as his own. For this reason he would spare the 
revolting province while they were there. Cortes, 
as was his wont, made soft speeches in answer. 
He entertained the young princes handsomely, 
taking care to display the wonders of his cavalry 
and the powers of his artillery before they left. 
He sent them away with a present of " glass dia- 
monds" and liberated the three remaining pris- 
oners. 

The fat chief and his people were perfectly 
astounded when they heard of this friendly con- 
ference, where they had expected open rupture. 
Surely these strangers must be sons of the gods 
or how could they thus terrify the dread Monte- 
zuma at such a distance? 



CHAPTER XL 

THE IDOLS OF CEMPOALLA THROWN DOWN — 
CORTES DESTROYS HIS SHIPS. 

Cortes was now called upon to aid his In- 
dian allies against a neighboring town with which 
which they had a dispute. He immediately set 
out for the hostile town. On the way, one of 
his soldiers stole two fowls. Knowing that every- 
thing depended on preventing those outrages 
upon the natives which had ruined so many Span- 
ish colonies in the new world, Cortes instantly 
ordered the man hung. His life was saved, 
however, by Alvarado, who cut the wretch down 
with his sword before he was dead. Cortes was 
probably very willing that this should be done as 
he could not afford to lose a man. He found the 
Indians against whom he had marched, disposed 
to be friendly and succeeded in reconcihng them 
with the natives of Cempoalla. When he returned 
the fat cacique proposed an alliance by marriage 
with the Spaniards that their friendship might 
be secured. He offered Cortes eight women, 



CORTES DESTROYS HIS SHIPS. 9I 

daughters of principal men among the Totonacs. 
Seven of them, he said, were designed for his cap- 
tains, and the eighth, who was his niece, was for 
Cortes himself. The general thanked the chief, 
but said that the Spaniards could not accept the 
ladies until they had been baptized. 

Seizing this opportunity for abolishing idolatry 
among the natives, Cortes proposed the subject 
to the principal men of Cempoalla. They were 
horror-struck. They would not listen to any such 
thing. Unable to accomplish anything by per- 
suasion, Cortes turned to his men. 

'* Come, let us prostrate these abominable 
idols, though it cost us all our lives," cried he. 

The zealous Spaniards sprang instantly to 
arms. Hardly waiting for the word of command 
they set out for the great temple of Cempoalla. 
The fat cacique dared not endure this insult. He 
immediately called his men to arms. The In- 
dian warriors rushed from every quarter toward 
(heir temple. Among them were the priests in 
their dark robes, franticly urging them to defend 
their religion. 

" Proceed not further in such a deed, for it 
will bring down destruction upon us, and upon 
you also," cried the cacique. 

"Since you will not do it yourselves, I am de 



92 MONTEZUMA. 

termined to hurl your false gods down the steps 
of the temple," answered Cortes. 

"You are not worthy to approach them,** ex- 
claimed the chief. 

But the fanatic Spaniards were in no mood to 
listen to remonstrances. With quick decision, 
Cortes caused the principal leaders of the Indians 
and among them the cacique, to be seized. 

" Now quiet your people," he commanded 
them, •' for if an arrow is shot against a Spaniard, 
you will all lose your lives.'* Marina also added 
her remonstrances, as to the futility of resistance, 
reminding the Indians that they had broken with 
Montezuma, and could not afford to break with 
Cortes. The fat chief submitted, covering his face 
with his hands, and exclaiming that the gods 
would avenge themselves. 

Fifty Spaniards immediately rushed up the 
steps of the temple. The fantastic idols, with 
their symbolical countenances and their sanctua- 
ries blackened with gore, were very horrible in 
the eyes of the Spaniards. They imagined that 
Satan himself must have appeared to the Indians, 
and furnished them a model for their images. 
With great zest they tore the huge idols from 
their foundations, and dashed them down the 
sides of the pyramid, amid the joyous shouts of 



CORTES DESTROYS HIS SHIPS. 93 

the Spaniards, and the tears and groans of the 
natives. They then collected the debris and 
made a great bonfire of it. 

The insulted gods having offered no resist- 
ance, the Indians abandoned their fears, and 
turned eagerly to assist the Spaniards in building 
the new sanctuary. The walls of the temple were 
cleansed, native workmen covered them with fresh 
stucco, and a new altar arose, surmounted by a 
cross, which was hung with flowers. A proces- 
sion was now formed. The image of the virgin, 
adorned with flowers, was carried through the 
streets. Some of the principal heathen priests, 
dressed in robes of white followed, bearing candles. 
The procession finally climbed the pyramidal tem- 
ple, and deposited the image on the altar. Mass 
was celebrated by Father Olmedo, who made the 
Indians an eloquent speech, by which they were 
apparently much touched. The eight Indian 
women were now baptized and received by the 
Spaniards, who returned to the infant city of Villa 
Rica, having left an old and disabled soldier in 
charge of the shrine. It was with a good con- 
science that they turned their backs on Cempo- 
alla, feeling that they had dealt heathenism a 
severe blow, in persuading the natives to accept 
what they regarded as a more powerful idol. 



94 MONTEZUMA, 

Cortes found, much to his surprise, a Spanish 
vessel in port. It was commanded by an adven- 
turer who had followed him to Mexico. He 
brought with him eleven men and two horses, an 
acceptable addition to the forces of the Span- 
iards. This man also brought the news that Ve- 
lasquez had received authority from Spain, to col- 
onize in the new world. Cortes now resolved to 
make an attempt to get some recognition from 
the emperor of his own discoveries and services, 
without which they would amount to nothing. 
He would send a vessel to Spain with an account 
of what he and his companions had done, and a 
rich present for the royal treasury. He resolved 
to send more than the fifth of the newly-acquired 
treasure, to which the emperor had a right, that 
he might the more impress him with the riches 
of the country. For this purpose Cortes relin- 
quished his own share, and persuaded his officers 
to do the same, who in their turn, prevailed upon 
the soldiers to give up their portion of the gold 
and curiosities, that weight might be given to the 
proposed representations which were so necessary 
to their future aggrandizement and wealth. So 
great was the power of Cortes' example and in- 
fluence over these turbulent and avaricious adven- 
turers, that they relinquished their cherished 



CORTES DESTROYS HIS SHIPS. 95 

plunder at his demand. Three letters were now 
addressed to the emperor, one by Cortes, one by 
his officers, and one by the men. They repre- 
sented the importance of their discoveries, the 
greed and injustice of Velasquez, prayed that 
he might not be allowed to interfere with them, 
and that their new organization with its officers 
might be confirmed. 

The cavaliers Puertocarrero and Montejo were 
chosen to convey this message to Spain. For 
this purpose one of the best vessels of the fleet 
was set apart, manned with fifteen seamen. To 
the treasure were added some native books to show 
their hieroglyphical writings and four native slaves 
who had been rescued from the cages in which 
they were confined for sacrifice. The ship sailed 
from Villa Rica on the twenty-sixth of July 15 19. 
The commanders had orders not to touch at Cuba. 
Montejo, however, wished to visit a plantation 
which he owned on the northern side of the 
island. Having stopped here, contrary to orders, 
a sailor got ashore and hastening through the 
island spread the tidings of the doings of Cortes 
everywhere. They speedily reached Velasquez 
who was transported with rage. He stormed 
at the men who had recommended Cortes for 
the post. He sent two swift-sailing vessels in 



96 MONTEZUMA. 

pursuit of Cortes* ship. But she had already 
sped far out into the Atlantic. Unable tc cap- 
ture the embassy, Velasquez appealed to the 
Ilieronymite fathers in Hispaniola. Receiving no 
satisfactory answer from them, he resolved to fit 
out a grand fleet, on his own account, to take 
possession of Mexico. He immediately began to 
busy himself with the preparations. 

Meantime a plot had hatched in the new 
colony. A number of soldiers with the priest, 
Diaz at their head, had plotted to seize a vessel 
and flee for Cuba where they would inform the 
governor of the situation of Cortes and of his in- 
tentions. The conspiracy had almost succeeded. 
Provisions and water had been secretly conveyed 
on board the vessel and the conspirators were on 
the eve of sailing when one of their number, re- 
penting, divulged the whole. His story was con- 
firmed by investigation. Two of the ringleaders 
were sentenced to die, another to have his feet 
cut off according to the barbarous modes of pun- 
ishment of the day, and others were to be whip- 
ped. The priest escaped in virtue of his orders. 
Cortes is said to have wished that he did not 
know how to write when he signed the death 
warrants of these men. Like most successful gen- 
erals, however, he did not regard human lives 



CORTES DESTROYS HIS SHIPS. 97 

very highly when they stood in the way of his 
purposes. 

Cortes now saw that the vessels would be a 
fruitful source of trouble to him. They were 
always a tempting means for reaching home. He 
dared not march for Mexico and leave a garrison 
at Villa Rica lest it should desert him. He had 
already forfeited all hope in retreat without full 
success. He resolved to destroy his vessels and 
thus cut away retreat from his men. In this as 
in everything else he was very crafty. It is said 
that by use of gold he induced the pilots to re- 
port that the ships were worm-eaten and unfit for 
service. He managed that his friends should ad- 
vise him to destroy them. They were then dis- 
mantled of everything that could be of value and 
sunk. Whether the troops knew of Cortes' inten- 
tion before it was carried out, as one authority as- 
serts, or did not, as others assert, matters very lit- 
tle. They may have grumbled, but it was now 
of no use. The great mind of their leader was 
steadily intent on one large scheme, from which 
he would not be swerved. Cortes pacified the 
doubts and discontent of his men by his wonder- 
ful personal influence, and their minds turned to 
the great object before them. " To Mexico, to 
Mexico!" they cried. 



CHAPTER XII. 



FORWARD FOR MEXICO, 



Cortes was preparing to set out for the inte- 
rior, when serious apprehensions were raised in 
his mind, by the news that some strange vessels 
were hovering off the coast near Villa Rica, and 
made no answer to the signals from that post. 
Cortes was at Cempoalla. Alarmed lest Velasquez 
was about to interfere in his plans, he hastened 
immediately to Villa Rica. The commander of 
this post offered to go to the strange vessels in 
his place, while he rested. But this Cortes re- 
fused to do. 

** A wounded hare takes no naps,'* said he, 
and hastened on without stopping to take food. 
He fell in with four Spaniards who had been sent 
ashore to reconnoiter. They said that their fleet 
had been sent by the governor of Jamaica, who 
had a royal commission to discover new lands 
upon this coast. Relieved of his fears, Cortes set 
about persuading the men to join them. It was 
no hard matter to induce the Spanish adventur- 



FORWARD FOR MEXICO. 99 

ers of the day to join an enterprise which prom- 
ised ample booty. They readily consented not 
only to join him themselves, but to assist him 
in entrapping their companions, for Cortes was 
ready, by fair means or foul, to add to his forces. 
The newly-acquired recruits, however, could not 
coax their wary companions by signs to approach 
the shore, while Cortes and his men were there. 
This commander now bethought himself of a 
strategem. He caused four of his men to change 
clothes with the men from the ships. With the 
remainder of his forces, he then marched back 
toward Villa Rica, along the shore in full view of 
the vessels. When he had reached a point out 
of sight of the ships, he wheeled around and 
making his way through the woods, hid with his 
men near their disguised companions. These, 
early on the following morning, went down upon 
the shore, and made signs to those on shipboard. 
A boat immediately put off with six men. Two 
of them landed. Meantime the disguised soldiers 
were busily washing their faces in a little brook, 
that they might not be too closely seen Those 
who were in the boat called to them. One of 
the disguised men answered them, telling them 
to come on shore. But the strange voice excited 
their suspicion, and they rowed off, leaving their 



100 MONTEZUMA. 

two companions to their fate. The ships sailed 
away, and Cortes returned to Villa Rica, having 
gained six men by a petty strategem unworthy 
of so great a man, but altogether in accordance 
with the character of Hernando Cortes. He had 
been two nights and a day without sleep or food 
in prosecuting this adventure. 

On the sixteenth of August, 15 19, the Span- 
iards set out for the interior, determined " to see 
what sort of a thing this great Montezuma was, 
of whom they had heard so much." Cortes* 
forces amounted to about four hundred infantry 
and fifteen cavalry, with the addition of some 
Cempoallan Indians to act as guides and some 
two hundred of the native porters, who were 
necessarily greatly used in a country destitute of 
draught animals. They soon left the rich vegeta- 
tion of the tropics, and began climbing the rocky, 
mountain passes toward the interior. The tower- 
ing mountains above them, dark with pines, the 
white summit of Mt. Orizaba which serves as a 
beacon to sailors, many miles at sea, the deep 
valleys filled with rich and rank vegetation, into 
which they looked from rocky precipices, the 
beautiful plains of the hot sea-coast countries at 
their feet, with a faint strip of sea along the hori- 
zon; — none of these things interested the Spaniards 



FORWARD TO MEXICO. lOI 

SO much as the conquest which they planned, the 
gold after which they grasped, and the fame 
for which they strived, and which would cost 
many of them their lives. It was indeed a toil- 
some journey, forced forward as they were by 
their indomitable leader, and burdened with ar- 
tillery and stores. Day by day as they pressed 
upward, making but short stays in the native 
towns upon the way, but leaving behind them 
crosses in almost every place, the increasing cold 
struck upon them like a chill. In clambering 
through a high and rugged pass, indeed, they were 
assailed by a storm of sleet and hail from which 
the Spaniards suffered, even in their mail of 
quilted cotton, but which was almost intolera- 
ble to the half-naked natives of the hot countries. 
Some of them died by the way. 

The little Spanish army at last entered upon 
the region of the high tablelands. Here the cli- 
mate was temperate, and plantations of maize 
and the Mexican magney, known now as the cen- 
tury plant, from which the natives make a fer- 
mented liquor, a coarse cloth, and paper, were 
everywhere seen. So carefully did these people 
farm that they are said to have erected small 
towers in their cornfields, that they might watch 
the growing grain, and keep away the birds from 



102 MONTEZUMA. 

the yojng plant The Spaniards soon found 
themselves in a considerable city. The cacique 
of the place received them but coldly. Cortes 
asked him if he was a subject of Montezuma. 

" Who is there that is not ? " haughtily replied 
the chief. 

" I certainly am not," answered Cortes. " My 
king is the most powerful monarch in the world. 
He has princes for his vassals as great as Monte- 
zuma himself." 

"Montezuma has thirty vassals, each master 
of a hundred thousand men," boasted the cacique 
on his part. ** His revenues are immense; for 
every subject, no matter how poor, pays some- 
thing. His capital is in a lake connected with 
the mainland by long causeways, intersected by 
drawbridges, so that all communication may be 
cut off." 

Cortes attempted to force his religion on this 
city. He was not seconded by Father Olmedo, 
however, who objected that the holy symbols, if 
erected in this place, would only be desecrated 
by a people who knew nothing of their meaning. 
Before leaving, Cortes took occasion to inquire of 
the cacique, if he had any gold, for he would like 
to send some to his king. 

" I have gold," was the response, " but I will 



FORWARD TO MEXICO. IO3 

give you none lest it should displease Monte- 
zuma. Should he require it, my gold, myself, 
and all that I possess would be yours." 

Shortly after leaving this city, Cortes was 
obliged to decide between two routes to Mexico. 
One of these lay through the city of Cholula, 
and the cacique had advised him to take this 
road; but his Cempoallan allies warned him 
against the people of Cholula as treacherous. 
They advised the Spaniards to take the other 
road through the republic of Tlascala, which was 
in deadly enmity to Montezuma, and the more 
likely to make common cause with Cortes. He 
resolved on this route, and sent an embassy of 
four Cempoallans to Tlascala to announce his 
approach. He sent by them a present of a red 
cap, a sword, and cross-bow, with a complimentary 
letter, requesting permission to pass through their 
country. It was not to be supposed that the 
natives would understand the letter; but the mes- 
sengers knew the contents of it, and it served 
them as a credential. 

After the ambassadors had gone, the Spaniards 
rested a few days in the friendly country where they 
were. They always marched in battle order, and 
always slept on their arms, whether in the land 
of friend or foe. Their wary leader well knew 



104 MONTEZUMA. 

that surprise was most to be feared in Indian 
warfare. 

*' We are few against many, brave comrades," 
he would often say. "Let us be ready, then, 
not as though we were going to battle, but as 
though we were already in the midst of it." 

Hearing nothing from their messengers, the 
Spaniards pushed on toward Tlascala. As they 
neared the mountain passes, a great wall suddenly 
rose within view. It was nine feet high, and 
reached from mountain side to mountain side, 
being six miles in extent. In the centre was a 
semi-circular bulge, where the wall overlapped 
leaving a narrow passageway for entrance, which 
could be ruarded on both sides. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

A LION IN THE PATH. 

Montezuma had not rested content that Tlas- 
cala should remain independent almost in the 
very midst of his own possessions. More than 
once he had attempted to conquer the indomita- 
ble mountaineers. A great army had been sent 
against them commanded by his favorite son. 
But the Tlascalans had withstood Montezuma's 
forces, and killed his son. Enraged, the king 
made a great combination, raised several armies, 
and swept irresistibly through the valley. But 
the inhabitants had only retired into their moun- 
tain fastnesses, and suddenly poured down upon 
the king's armies from all sides. It was too 
much for them ; they were driven from the val- 
ley. Tlascala remained independent, but she was 
cut off from all intercourse with the provinces of 
the hot countries which were under the dominion 
of Montezuma. The Tlascalans were thus en- 
tirely deprived of salt, cotton, and cacao. The 
people had long since become accustomed to eat 



I06 MONTEZUMA. 

their food without salt, and to do without other 
articles of commerce. 

The news of the arrival of the Spaniards and 
their deeds had reached the Tlascalans. They 
were surprised, however, when Cortes requested 
permission to pass through their country. Tlas- 
cala seems to have been governed by four chiefs 
and a council. The Cempoallan ambassadors were 
received by this body, before which they deliv- 
ered their message. They were then requested 
to retire, and the subject was discussed. 

** I am of opinion," said one of the chiefs^ 
'* that we ought to receive these strangers. Ac- 
cording to the account we have of them, they 
seem to be those heroes of whom tradition tells, 
and of which the earthquake, the comet, and sev- 
eral other strange events of the last few years 
have been forewarnings. If they be indeed im- 
mortal, it will be of no use for us to attempt to 
oppose them." 

Xicotencatl, a very aged and influential chief, 
arose and replied : " Those men who demand en- 
trance to our land, appear to me rather as mon- 
sters, cast up by the sea because it could not en- 
dure them, than gods descended from heaven, as 
some have imagined. Is it possible they can be 
gods who greedily covet gold and pleasures? 



A LION IN THE PATH. I07 

And what ought we not to dread from them, in 
a country so poor as this, where we are even 
destitute of salt ? Let us then reject their de- 
mand, and fight them if they still insist. The 
council acted upon the old chiefs advice. 

Meantime Cortes had filed his army unresisted 
through the fortifications on the frontier of Tlas- 
cala. It was designed to defend her only easy 
pass from the Mexicans, and was now, in time of 
peace, without a garrison. The Tlascalans were 
doubtless already on the way to resist the Span- 
iards at this pass, and, had Cortes waited a little 
longer for the friendly answer which he confi- 
dently expected, he would have met a resistance 
which he could hardly have overcome. Unsus- 
picious of danger, he, with some of his cavaliers 
galloped a mile or two ahead of the army to get 
a view of the country. They soon espied some 
natives wearing plumes upon their heads and 
armed with shields and the curious swords of the 
country, made of a stout club or handle, in which 
were inserted at short distances small sharp 
blades of a hard mineral, called itzli. The In- 
dians fled at sight of the Spanish cavaliers. Un- 
able to persuade them of his friendly intentions, 
Cortes galloped in pursuit. Finding that they 
could not outrun the horses, the Tlascalans 



I08 MONTEZUMA. 

turned at bay and fought the Spaniards with such 
desperate ferocity that they killed two of their 
horses. They were now reinforced by an im- 
mense body of Indians who were a little in their 
rear. There remained but eight of the Spanish 
cavalry to breast the desperate onslaught. They 
had great odds in their favor, however, and suc- 
ceeded in killing a number of the native warriors 
at the expense of several wounded men and 
horses. The Spanish infantry hastened to their 
relief, and at sight of them the Indians retreated. 

Shortly after this skirmish, two of the ambas- 
sadors whom Cortes had sent to the Tlascalan 
authorities returned with some of these people, 
who assured the general that they had no other 
intention but to receive him hospitably, and that 
they were not responsible for the recent attack 
which had been made on the part of the popu 
lace. Cortes pretended to believe this declaration. 

The Spaniards secretly buried the two horses 
that the natives might not be encouraged to 
farther hostilities by the sight of them. Cortes 
very much regretted their loss, especially as the 
Indians would be undeceived as to the mortal 
nature of this strange animal. Night was coming 
on. The weary and famished soldiers marched 
but a league farther, and took up their quarters 



A LION IN THE PATH. IO9 

by the side of a running stream. They passed 
a watchful night, relieving each other in standing 
guard. At early dawn the army was in motion. 
The Spaniards were soon joined by the two re- 
maining ambassadors, who reported that the 
Tlascalans were up in arms against the intruders. 
The ambassadors had been imprisoned; but they 
had managed to escape, being in great dread lest 
they should be sacrificed. The army had hardly 
moved two stones' throw farther when numbers 
of Indians began to appear. Cortes immediately 
brought forward Aguilar and Donna Marina, and 
attempted to make peaceful overtures. They were 
only answered, however, by showers of stones 
and arrows. The Spaniards were galled by their 
smarting wounds. Without further ceremony, 
Cortes shouted the battle-cry : 

" St. lago, and at them." 

A vigorous charge staggered the enemy. The 
Spaniards were soon driving the Indians before 
them. Elated with their easy victory, they were 
entrapped before they knew it. They found 
ti.emselves drawn into a gorge where the rough 
ground impeded the movements of the cavalry. 
Befort them was arrayed a great army of Indians, 
amounting to thousands, when we make a suffi- 
cient deduction from the accounts of the Span- 



no MONTEZUMA. 

iards, who are never to be depended on in their 
estimate of numbers on the opposite side. They 
were commanded by a courageous young general, 
Xicotencatl, son of the old chieftain, and all wore 
his colors, red and white. 

The Spanish troops were obliged to force their 
way in a compact column through the defile. 
They afforded a good target for Indian archers 
and for the slings which the natives used a great 
deal in battle, and which frequently did deadly 
work, and were the most dreaded of any Indian 
weapon by the Spaniards. They made them 
" smart for it,*' however, when they had reached 
the open plain again. Nevertheless, the enemy 
closed upon them from every side. Rebuffed, 
they only rolled back again upon the little army 
like a mighty wave, until the men were so 
crowded together that they could scarcely move. 
The Tlascalans were especially ambitious to kill 
more of the strange animals which gave their 
enemy so much advantage. A fine horse-man, 
named Pedro de Moren, was charging amongst 
the Indians, levelling his spear always at their 
faces, as Cortes had ordered. A number of war- 
riors with their club-swords sprang upon him. 
They seized Moren's lance, and wounded him 
dangerously. With a thrust in the neck, they 



A LION IN THE PATH. Ill 

killed the horse. In a moment more, the rider 
would have been carried off for sacrifice. A few- 
Spaniards sallied forth to his rescue. Many of 
them could not leave their ranks, lest they be 
broken into by the enemy. They succeeded in 
bringing off the cavalier, but he afterwards died 
of his wounds. The dead horse was triumphantly 
secured by the natives, who carried it off to send 
it in pieces, as a trophy, to the various towns of 
Tlascala. But the Spanish artillery mowed down 
the ranks of the Tlascalans, and Cortes cried : 

" If we fail now, the cross can never be 
planted in the land. Forward comrades! When 
was it ever known that a Castillian turned his 
back on the enemy." 

Finally the Tlascalans drew off in good order, 
but with great loss, while the Spanish losses were 
small, owing in part to the desire of the Indians 
to capture their enemies alive. The Spaniarcb 
were too jaded to follow the enemy from the fiekl. 

Several days were now spent in resting and in 
forays into the neighboring country, by means of 
which provisions were obtained, towns destroyed, 
and the people intimidated as much as possible 
Two envoys were sent to the Tlascalan camps 
offering peace. 

" Tell your chief," answered the ferocious 



112 MONTEZUMA. 

Xicotencatl, "that his men may pursue their way 
to Tlascala, where peace will be made with them 
by devouring their flesh and offering their hearts 
and blood to our gods. As for any farther an- 
swer, I will give it to him next morning in his 
camp." 

This message sounded almost like a doom in 
the ears of the Spaniards, who seemed farther 
than ever from their great object, the Mexican 
capital. A large army of Indians lay near them, 
and they were little more than four hundred men, 
accompanied by some Indian allies. Cortes, how- 
ever, not to be caught in camp by Xicotencatl, 
mustered his forces before daylight, and gave the 
soldiers their directions. The Spaniards marched 
out in the early morning with the banner of the 
cross at their head. They had advanced but a 
mile or two, when they saw the great army of 
Tlascala spread out before them. The warriors 
were decorated with head-dresses of gay plumes. 
From their shields hung long feathers, and those 
of higher rank wore gay feather mantles. As the 
Spaniards approached, they heard the blowing 
and clanging of rude musical instruments. The 
two armies met, and almost immediately every 
Spaniard was pierced in some spot with darts or 
arrows. The ground was thickly strewn with 



A LION IN THE PATH. II 3 

them. Spaniard and Indian grappled foot to 
foot and hand to hand. The sword of steel and 
the sword of itzli struggled together. The Indian 
forces closed in on all sides of the little European 
army. Among them charged the cavalry, always 
aiming their spears at the eyes of the enemy. 
Their dense ranks were mowed down by cross- 
bow, cannon and musketry. Equal courage made 
the battle a long one, but superior arms and 
science must win the day. A quarrel between 
the several chieftains held aloof two- thirds of the 
Tlascalan forces from the assistance of Xicotencatl 
and hastened the Spanish victory. 

The battle had been too hard won for a pur- 
suit. Every horse was wounded, and almost 
every man. No one was excused from duty 
under plea of a wound, unless it were a severe 
one. The Spaniards buried their dead in a sort 
of cave, which the natives used for a dwelling. 
They filled this up with earth to conceal their 
losses. Without salt for their food or oil for 
their wounds, and shivering under the cold wind 
from the mountains, they awaited what next 
might happen. 

Cortes again sent an embassy to Tlascala, 
offering peace; but the indomitable little republic 
could not yet make up her mind to submit. The 



114 MONTEZUMA. 

priests were consulted as to whether the enemy 
could be conquered. The oracles gave it out 
that they would not be invincible at night. The 
good sense of the Tlascalans probably told them 
that cavalry and firearms would not be so effect- 
tive in the darkness. But Cortes was not to be 
caught napping. His men slept on their arms, 
and their horses stood saddled and bridled beside 
them. A sentinel descried the dusky body of 
Indians approaching. The alarm was given, and 
the men sprang to arms. Meantime, the Indian 
forces stole along, partially hidden by the fields 
of corn. They neared the hill on which the 
Spanish adventurers lay encamped. Suddenly 
"St. lago ! St. lago ! " rung through the air, and 
the Spaniards poured down the sides. The In- 
dians fled. It seemed to them that the Spaniards 
had divined their purposes by miracle. 

Another envoy to the city of Tlascala, now 
received a more favorable answer, but stopped on 
its return at the camp of Xicotencatl. This stub- 
born chief detained the messengers of peace, for 
he was still determined to conquer the intruders. 
Meantime the Spaniards were in a deplorable con- 
dition. Some fifty-five of their number had died 
Irom wounds, sickness, and cold. Cortes and 
Father Olmedo were both sick with fever, and 



A LION IN THE PATH. II5 

the golden city of Mexico seemed but a vision- 
ary dream after the experience of the last few 
days. Added to this, discontent arose in the 
camp. Some who had left good houses and plan- 
tations in the island of Cuba for this wild adven- 
ture began to long for home. They represented 
to Cortes that now was the time to return if 
they ever hoped to. They wished to retreat im- 
mediately to Villa Rica. They mourned over the 
loss of their ships; but suggested that one might 
be constructed to send to Cuba for aid. 

" Gentlemen," replied Cortes, " I believe there 
never existed braver soldiers than mine. If we 
persevere, our fame will exceed the most illus- 
trious of our predecessors. As to our return, it 
is true the natives we have left behind are now 
friendly; but, if we seemed to retreat, the very 
stones would rise up against us. Therefore, gen- 
tlemen, thus it is; bad here, worse elsewhere. 
Better stay as you are, here in a plentiful coun- 
try. As to your complaints of losses and fatigues 
such is the fortune of war, and we did not come 
here in search of pastimes and amusements." 

When they still murmured, Cortes cut them 
short by saying that according to the old song, 
"it was better to die at once than to live dishon- 
ored." 



Il6 MONTEZUMA. 

A peaceful message was finally sent to the 
Spanish camp by Xicotencatl. The fifty messen- 
gers tvere suspected by the Cempoallan Indians 
of treacher>'. Cortes examined them separately, 
and was convinced that this was true. Spies 
were most unwelcome visitors in the present state 
of the Spanish camp. The only hope for Cortes 
was to persuade the enemy that he was uncon- 
querable. With the horrible cruelty of his time, 
he cut off the hands of seventeen of the messen- 
gers, and sent them back to Xicotencatl with the 
message that "let him come day or night, he 
would find out who the Spaniards were." This 
message had its designed effect. The Spaniards 
seemed to the natives to read all their thoughts. 
The sad plight of their messengers humbled the 
haughty chief. But he knew not what joy he 
gave the disheartened Spaniards, when his em- 
bassy of peace neared the Spanish camp. Four 
old men advanced to Cortes, and having touched 
their hands to the ground and offered incense, 
told the general that they never should have 
made war upon him, had they not thought that 
he was in reality an ally of Montezuma. They 
V7ere followed by the brave Tlascalan general 
himself. He was a broad and muscular man, his 
face marked with deep lines, though but thirty* 



A LION IN THE PATH. II7 

five years of age. He made Cortes a small pres- 
ent of g-old ornaments, for his people were poor, 
he said; they had neither salt nor cotton, much 
less gold. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

FRIENDSHIP AND TREACHERY. 

Montezuma had been informed of every 
movement of the Spaniards. He had watched 
their onward course with deep interest. It was 
with feelings of relief that he saw them turn to- 
ward Tlascala. He felt sure that, if they were 
men, this indomitable little nation would prove 
it by subduing them. But every Spanish victory 
fell like doom upon Montezuma. His supersti- 
tious awe of the strange intruders increased. 
He felt that he must destroy them if possible. 
Meanwhile he pursued the same conciliatory 
policy. He sent an embassy of six of his nobles 
or chiefs, accompanied by a retinue of two hun- 
dred natives, to the Spanish camp with a rich 
present, some thousands of ounces of gold, and 
a large amount of cotton cloth. These ambassa- 
dors told Cortes that Montezuma was willing to 
pay their king an annual tribute of gold, jewels, 
feather work, slaves, and cotton. Montezuma, 
they said, would like to see so great a general 



FRIENDSHIP AND TREACHERY. 11^ 

AS Cortes; but his country was so poor, and the 
roads were so bad that he could not permit him 
to come to Mexico. 

Cortes expressed his thanks for the present, 
which he said he would repay with "good 
deeds." The ambassadors earnestly desired him 
not to go to the Tlascalan capital, for these peo- 
ple were treacherous. At the same time the 
Tlascalans whispered in his other ear that the 
Mexicans were in no wise to be depended on. 
Meantime the confidant of both parties was not 
a Httle pleased to see their mutual hatred of each 
other. The situation exactly suited the scheming 
disposition of Cortes. " I dissembled with both 
parties," said he, " expressing privately my ac- 
knowledgments to both for the advice they gave 
me, and giving each of them credit for more 
friendship towards me than I experienced from 
the other." 

At the invitation of its people, the Spaniards 
entered the city of Tlascala on the third of Sep- 
tember, 1 5 19. Men and women streamed forth 
from the city to meet and view these remarkable 
strangers. According to the pleasant custom oi 
the country, they presented the Spaniards with 
wreaths of sweet flowers. Among the crowd 
were the wierd priests, bearing little pots in 



I20 MONTEZUMA. 

which they offered incense to the conquerors. 
The Spaniards were conducted to some spacious 
courts, around which were the apartments in- 
tended for their use. The people seem to have 
been inspired with real delight; for, in these in- 
vincible warriors, they saw a strong hand to re- 
venge the oppressions of the Mexicans. But, in 
spite of his confidence in their friendship, Cortes 
did not relax one of his precautions. The can- 
nons were placed ready for defence, and a Span- 
ish soldier neither walked nor slept without his 
arms. The Tlascalans, jealous lest the Spaniard* 
suspected their good faith, complained of this 
But Cortes assured them that it was but a cus- 
tom of the Spaniard, never to be separated from 
his arms. 

Here, as at Cempoalla, Cortes attempted to 
force his religion on the people. He preached 
them a zealous sermon on the wickedness of their 
present practices and the beauties of his own re- 
ligion. The Tlascalans answered that they readily 
believed that his was a most excellent god, but 
they would by no means abandon their own an- 
cient gods. If the Spaniards threw them down, 
it would be at the expense of their lives. When 
Father Olmedo, who was a *' wise man," heard 
of this new outbreak of fiery zeal on the part of 



FRIENDSHIP AND TREACHERY. 121 

the general, he told him plainly that he put little 
faith in " forced conversions." The destruction 
of the idols of the natives was but a fruitless 
violence ; for, if they were not convinced by argu- 
ments, they would find other means of continuing 
their idolatrous worship. Cortes finally contented 
himself with procuring the use of one temple, 
which he cleared of its abominations and arranged 
for the worship of his soldiers. The tie of peace 
was here also confirmed by the gift of some of 
the chieftain's daughters to the Spanish ofificers. 

Montezuma, the fierce warrior and the crafty 
statesman of former years, an absolute monarch 
in the western world, in the heart of his strong- 
hold on Lake Tezcuco, was stupefied with dread 
at the approach of a new race of men. He saw 
them forming an alliance with his ancient enemy, 
and felt that he must do something to save his 
throne. As well as we can judge from the one- 
sided history which has come down to us, Mon- 
tezuma laid a plan to entrap and exterminate the 
white men. He now sent an embassy to Cortes 
urging him to come and visit him at Mexico and 
particularly warning him to form no alliance with 
the Tlascalans. This message was accompanied 
as usual with a rich present of wrought gold and 
the fine stuffs of the country. 



122 MONTEZUMA. 

After three weeks rest in Tlascala, Cortes set 
out for Mexico, resolved to go by way of the 
city of Cholula. The Tlascalans had warned him 
not to go to this place. But the Spanish general 
was determined on the route. He sent to the 
people of Cholula, demanding their submission, 
for this city was the only one in the neighbor- 
hood which had not sent a friendly embassy to 
the Spaniards. The Cholulans sent back word 
that they were afraid to enter the country of the 
Tlascalans, who were their enemies ; but, if the 
Spaniards would only come to their city, they 
should be well received. 

Taking with them some two thousand Tlas- 
calan warriors, the Spaniards set out for Cholula. 
They were met by a procession of the chiefs and 
priests, who requested that the Tlascalans should 
not be allowed to enter their city, as they were 
enemies. Deeming this a reasonable request, 
Cortes commanded his allies to encamp outside 
of the city. The Spaniards admired the broad 
meadows and fields of maize through which they 
moved. Before them now rose the numerous 
shining, white towers, and the great pyramid of 
Cholula, the largest in all the country. This 
pyramid stands to-day, and, overgrown with vege- 
tation as it is, it looks almost like a natural hill 



FRIENDSHIP AND TREACHERY. 1 23 

It is built of brick and gravel, and was the espe- 
cial sanctuary of Quetzalcoatl, the god whose 
return had been long expected by the people of 
the country. The pyramid measured one thou- 
sand feet at the base, and two hundred feet in 
height. It was, like all the structures of its kind, 
divided into several stories. Crowds of pilgrims 
resorted yearly to Cholula to visit this great 
shrine. The Cholulans were skilled in useful arts, 
and especially in the manufacture of a very fine 
pottery, with which they furnished Montezuma's 
table. 

The reception of the Spaniards in this great 
city was cool, and they found themselves but 
poorly supplied with entertainment. Ambassa- 
dors arrived from Montezuma, who again refused 
the Spaniards permission to proceed to Mexico, 
and conferred privately with the chiefs of Cho- 
lula. The natives turned away from the Span- 
iards with hostile sneers. These, and many such 
incidents aroused the suspicions of the alert gen- 
eral." 

" Be on your guard," was his order to his 
men, " for I suspect some great treachery." He 
quietly sent to a neighboring temple, and pro- 
cured two of the priests. After making them 
liberal presents, he asked them the cause of this 



124 MONTEZUMA. 

extraordinary behavior. One of them said that U 
he were released, he could persuade the chiefs to 
come and answer for themselves. He was per- 
mitted to go, and returned with several of the 
rulers. Cortes asked what this strange behavior 
meant, and demanded provisions for his army. 
The chiefs seemed embarrassed. They promised 
to send the Spaniards provisions, but confessed 
that Montezuma, who did not want the strangers 
to go farther, had forbidden it. Three Cempoallan 
Indians now sent for Cortes. They informed him 
that they had discovered pitfalls covered with 
wood and earth, and that, on looking into them, 
they had found them set with sharp stakes. Many 
of the roofs of the houses were filled with stones, 
they said, and they had seen a barricade in one 
of the streets. Just at this moment, eight Tlas- 
calans arrived with the intelligence that women 
and children were leaving the city in numbers, 
and that the Cholulans had sacrificed seven 
victims to the god of war on the preceding 
night. After hearing this ominous news, Cortes 
quietly returned, and concluded his interview 
with the chiefs who had been awaiting him. 
He announced his intention of setting out 
the next morning, and asked of them, two thou- 
sand warriors to accompany him. This they con- 



FRIENDSHIP AND TREACHERY. 12$ 

sented to, the more readily that it fell in with 
their plans. 

As far as we know, Montezuma had vacillated 
in regard to his treatment of the Spaniards. 
First he gave orders that they should be well re- 
ceived, and then that they should not be allowed 
passage. Finally, having consulted his gods, he 
was informed that the Spaniards were to meet 
their doom at Cholula. Inspired with fresh 
spirit he had dispatched a large body of troops, 
some of whom were within the city and some of 
whom were in readiness without. The plans weie 
all laid. The Spaniards were to be entrapped and 
captured. Twenty of the victims were to be al 
lowed to the Cholulans for sacrifice, the rest were 
to be taken to Mexico. 

By some means, Cortes induced the two 
priests in his power to confess the plot, for which 
he rewarded them handsomely. He now called a 
council of his men, some of whom proposed flight 
when they heard of the conspiracy. But Cortes 
laid his plans before them, enjoined every precau- 
tion, and dismissed them. 

There was in Cholula a chief's wife who had 
taken a great liking to Donna Marina. She vis- 
ited the girl secretly, this same night, and, inti- 
mating that there was great danger in remaining 



126 MONTEZUMA. 

with the Spaniards, invited Marina to return with 
her to her home, where she proposed to marry 
her to her son. With her usual presence of 
mind, Marina thanked her warmly, and said that 
she only desired to save her property, among 
which were probably many handsome presents, 
given her by the Spaniards. Meanwhile she 
managed to extract the whole secret from the 
woman. Having gathered together her effects, 
Marina asked her to watch them a minute for 
her. She then flew to Cortes, and told him all 
that she had learned. He immediately sent for 
the woman, and examined her. The general had 
now no doubt of the trap which had been laid 
for him. The Spaniards passed a wakeful night. 

Morning broke. There was an unusual hurry 
in the city. The Cholulan allies assembled eagerly 
in the wide court-yard where the Spaniards were 
quartered. 

" See how anxious these traitors are to feast 
upon our flesh," cried Cortes. The stern soldiers 
must now give them a severe lesson if they ever 
meant to reach their goal. Having disclosed to 
the chief men the fact that he knew of their 
treachery, Cortes gave a signal, and the Spaniards 
fell upon the Cholulans with deadly slaughter. 
The Tlascalan allies rushed to the scene, and lent 



FRIENDSHIP AND TREACHERY. 1 27 

a ferocious aid. Several thousand natives are said 
to have died in this massacre. Even when the 
slaughter was over, the Tlascalans could not be 
restrained. They roamed over the city, making 
prisoners and plundering the houses. Cortes 
forced them to liberate many of the Cholulans, 
but they still retained a rich plunder of gold, 
mantles, cotton, salt, and slaves. 

Cortes now attempted to restore the city to 
peace. The fleeing inhabitants were induced to 
return, the regular successor of the late cacique, 
his brother, was appointed to the chieftaincy, and, 
in a few days, the streets of Cholula began to as- 
sume their usual busy activity 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE ENTRY INTO MEXICO. 

The news of the tragedy quickly reached 
Montezuma. He shut himself up in his palace 
and fasted for days, calling upon his gods. Cor- 
tes sent the king word by his own ambassadors, 
who had been in the city at the time of the 
massacre, that he could not believe so great a 
monarch to have been privy to the treachery of 
the Cholulans. Discouraged at the ill-success of 
his plan of trying to prevent the visit to Mexico, 
Montezuma now sent a present of gold plate and 
fine stuffs to Cortes, with an invitation to come 
to his capital. 

Meantime the Spaniards were making a short 
stay in Cholula. Cortes erected a cross upon the 
great pyramid, and proposed to throw down the 
time-honored idols of the city. But Father, 01- 
medo interfered, and in consideration of their un- 
certain circumstances, the zealous Spaniards post- 
poned this outrage upon the feelings of the na- 
tives. Cortes now prepared to move on. His 



THE ENTRY INTO MEXICO. 1 29 

Cempoallan friends asked permission to return, 
which was granted them. Meantime he accepted 
the offer of a thousand Tlascalans to accompany 
his army. 

Cortes took every precaution against surprise 
in the disposition of his forces, as he set out for 
Mexico. The Spaniards marched, according to 
the Spanish proverb, with " their beards over 
their shoulders." The first miles of their march 
lay through the fertile plains of the plateau of 
Puebla. Now they neared the two great moun- 
tains which guarded the valley of Mexico, Popo- 
catepetl, or " the hill that smokes," and Iztacci- 
huatl, or ** white woman." These mysterious 
mountains with their snowy summits were re- 
garded with awe by the natives. Popocatepetl, 
with its smoking crater, its playful way of show- 
ering stones, and its low rumblings, was very nat- 
urally regarded as a god, while the neighboring 
white woman was his giant wife. What was their 
astonishment then, when some of the adventurous 
Spaniards proposed ascending the volcano, Popo- 
catepetl, which is two thousand feet higher than 
Mt. Blanc. Cortes, ready to display the supe- 
riority of his men, encouraged the project. Nine 
Spaniards, headed by Diego de Ordaz, attempted 
the ascent. They pushed up through matted for- 



130 MONTEZUMA. 

ests until these grew thinner and more stunted, 
and finally ended in dwarf trees, not as high as 
a man*s knee. They climbed on until there was 
no vestige of vegetation left, and on up into the 
regions of eternal snow. The cold was almost 
insupportable, they were assailed by clouds of 
smoke, and the ground seemed crumbling away 
beneath them, from the strange noises which they 
heard. They turned back without reaching the 
summit. But they returned bearing as trophies, 
icicles, things unknown in the mild valleys below, 
and having been the first white men to set eyes 
on the distant city of Mexico. 

Cortes chose the shortest but roughest road 
across the mountains, which guarded the valley 
of Mexico, because Montezuma's messengers had 
urged upon him the more circuitous road, and 
the general was constantly on the look out for 
treachery. The Spaniards made a wearisome 
climb through the wild gorges, almost perishing 
under the cold mountain blasts. They fortunately 
found a hospitable shelter, built by the Mexicans 
for the accommodation of travellers. Here they 
rested for the night. In the morning they soon 
reached the highest point on their rough road. 
Now, for the first time, they looked down upon 
the longed-for goal, Montezuma's rich home. The 



THE ENTRY INTO MEXICO. I3I 

plateau of Mexico lay spread out before them, 
with its lakes and its innumerable white towns. 
There, too, was the fair city of Mexico, with its 
miles of flat roofs, its pyramids and temple 
towers. It seemed to be standing in the water, 
connected to the mainland only by narrow threads 
of causeway. 

" It is the promised land," was the delighted 
cry of the way-worn Spanish soldiers. After the 
first burst of admiration, however, their feelings 
were not those of exultation. It is an impossible 
undertaking, thought the more timid. How 
could this little handful subjugate " the great 
Montezuma," whose city lay before them ? Their 
first impulse was to turn back. Not so Hernando 
Cortes. His avarice and ambition were whetted 
by the beautiful sight before him. With a few 
inspiring words he reanimated his men, and all 
moved forward down the sides of the Sierra. As 
the Spaniards descended, they passed through 
several towns. The chiefs and people flocked to 
the banner of Cortes, and everywhere complained 
of the tyranny of Montezuma. As the Spaniards 
moved slowly on, attended by crowds of wonder- 
struck natives, they were met by another em- 
bassy from Montezuma. As usual, a rich present 
was poured into the treasury of Cortes, and ao 



132 MONTEZUMA. 

companied by an entreaty from the king that the 
Spaniards would yet return. If they would do so, 
the king promised Cortes four loads of gold, with 
one apiece for each of his officers, and a yearly 
tribute to his monarch. This was but bribing 
the Spaniards to make themselves masters of 
such riches. How could he now turn back, 
mildly answered the general, when he had prom- 
ised his king to go himself and see Montezuma's 
city, and bring back an account of it. 

Montezuma, indeed, had intended that this 
message should reach the Spaniards before they 
entered the valley. When he heard that they 
were already there, his heart sank within him. 
He seems to us weak indeed. He felt himself in 
the hands of an irresistible fate. He might have 
known the power and unscrupulousness of the so- 
called civilized nations of Europe by experience 
from the way in which he was impressed by these 
few white men who invaded his dominions under 
the pretense of friendship. He fasted in seclu- 
sion. He took counsel with his lords. There was 
only one way now open to rid himself of the in- 
truders. He could entrap the strangers into the 
city, cut off the communications and exterminate 
them. Awed by their repeated and almost mirac- 
ulous victories, Montezuma dared not brave them 



THE ENTRY iNlO MEXICO. 1 33 

in open battle. He prepared one more embassy 
to meet and welcome the Spaniards, led, this 
time, by the king of Tezcuco, who was Monte- 
zuma's nephew. 

Meantime, Cortes was coming onward by easy 
stages, passing through various well-built cities 
and everywhere well received by the caciques, 
who made him valuable presents of gold. As 
they were preparing to set out in the early 
morning from Ajotzinco, the Spaniards were 
met by a courier who requested them to wait 
for the king of Tezcuco, who was approaching. 
Cacama, for that was his name, soon appeared, 
followed by a large retinue, and borne on a 
rich litter adorned with green plumes, its canopy 
supported by pillars of gold and set with jew- 
els. When Cacama had descended, his attend- 
ants swept the ground before him. He ap- 
proached the Spanish general and gave the cus- 
tomary salutation. 

" Malinche," he began, for so the Aztecs 
called Cortes. This was as near as they could 
get to the name of Marina, and they named Cor- 
tes Marina's lord, from their being so often to- 
gether. Marina excited the curiosity of the 
natives, being a woman of their own nation and 
yet so devoted to the Spaniards. *' Malinche. I 



134 MONTEZUMA. 

am come, by the order of the great Moilitezuma, 
to attend you to the city," 

Cortes embraced the Indian lord, and pre- 
sented him with some large false jewels. The 
Spaniards moved on through a country very won- 
derful to them. Their road now lay along the 
lake shore. Here were many smaller cities built 
upon piles in the water. These towns which 
seemed to rest on the very surface of the lake, 
the floating islands, and the gayly dressed natives 
who darted here and there over the water in 
their canoes made the scene seem like fairy-land 
to the Spaniards, and they were tempted to rub 
their eyes to make sure that they were awake. 

They were conducted to the city of Iztapala- 
pan, of which Montezuma's brother was the chief, 
and here they were lodged for the night in pal- 
aces of stone. The Spaniards wandered through 
their quarters admiring the cotton hangings, the 
wood-work of cedar and the spacious courts. 
They walked out into the gardens, which seemed 
like an enchanted region ; for here were beautiful 
shrubs and plants, wholly new to them, trees 
laden with fruit, flowers of the brightest colors, 
all manner of birds, and basins of water stocked 
with fish. 

The city of Iztapalapan was near the southern 



THE ENTRY INTO MEXICO. 1 35 

entrance to Mexico. The Spaniards proceeded 
in the early morning of the eighth of Novem- 
ber, 1 5 19, along a causeway leading to Mexico. 
The lake was thronged with the canoes of the 
natives, eager to see these strange beings who 
were coming to their city. The natives crowded 
up on to the edge of the causeway, and pressed 
the Spaniards on every side. The Spaniards soor 
were met by a great embassy of Mexican digni- 
taries, richly dressed. The strangers were kept 
waiting nearly an hour, while the Mexicans each 
in turn performed the usual ceremony of saluta- 
tion before Cortes. The army then moved on 
amidst a dense crowd. As they crossed the 
wooden draw-bridge, they remembered the stories 
that they had frequently heard, that Montezuma 
only awaited their entrance into his strong citj 
to put an end to them. 

Before the Spaniards, lay the broad, straight 
avenue which ran through the centre of Mexico, 
Down this street moved the richest retinue they 
had yet seen in the new world. Montezuma was 
coming to meet them. He was borne on a mag 
nificent litter carried by nobles who bent their 
eyes on the ground. Before him walked three 
lords bearing wands of gold, and behind him was 
a long train of retainers. As he neared the 



136 MONTEZUMA. 

strangers, the great monarch alighted from his 
litter, and came forward, leaning on the arms of 
his brother and nephew, the lords of Iztapalapa, 
and Tezcuco. Over him was carried a rich 
canopy, ornamented with gorgeous, green feathers 
and fringed with gold and pendant jewels. 

All of Montezuma's subjects looked down- 
wards as he approached, with the exception of 
the princes of his family, and mantles were spread 
before him to tread upon. His dress, according 
to the custom of his people, was a girdle or sash 
and a great square cloak made of the finest cot- 
ton and sprinkled with jewels. He wore plumes 
upon his head and *' buskins" of jeweled gold on 
his feet, while his attendants, though richly 
dressed, went barefoot. 

As the king approached, Cortes dismounted 
from his horse, and moved forward alone to meet 
him. He would have embraced Montezuma, but 
the attendants prevented this desecration of the 
royal personage. Cortes, however, threw over 
his head a necklace of colored crystals. The 
king then touched his hand to the ground and 
brought it to his face. The two princes, his 
brother and nephew, did likewise, and the whole 
retinue followed, each Mexican saluting the Span- 
ish general in turn. An attendant presented 



THE ENTRY INTO MEXICO. 137 

Cortes with two collars of periwinkle shells with 
gold pendants. After some complimentary pas- 
sages between the king and the general, the 
whole procession moved up the main avenue of 
the city. The crowds of Indians who thronged 
the street pressed themselves up against the 
walls, and lowered their eyes as Montezuma 
passed. Streets, canals, terraces, and house-tops 
were filled with people eager to see the strange 
white men. The Spaniards trembled, as well they 
might, when they thought of the possibility that 
these peaceful inhabitants might soon be turned 
against them in war. 

Montezuma conducted his guests to the palace 
of Axayacatl, the whole of which extensive build- 
ing he devoted to their use. The king led Cor- 
tes, by the hand to his apartment, and caused 
him to be seated on a piece of fine matting. 

" Malinche," said Montezuma, " you and your 
friends are at home ; now repose yourselves." 
With these words he left the Spaniards, who dis- 
posed their cannon to the best advantage, and 
took every precaution against a possible attack. 
They then sat down *' with great satisfaction * 
to a sumptuous meal. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

MONTEZUMA AND HERNANDO CORTES. 

Having left the Spaniards time to dine and 
refresh themselves, the king, attended by his no- 
bles, again repaired to the palace of Axayacatl. 
Cortes advanced into the middle of the spacious 
saloon which had been assigned to him. Monte- 
zuma took him by the hand, and they both sat 
down together while the Aztec nobles and at- 
tendant Spaniards remained standing. Monte- 
zuma was at this time about forty years of age, 
tall, slender and well-proportioned. His hair was 
rather short, and he had but little beard. His 
face wore a grave expression, but he had pleasant 
eyes. 

*' Malinche, said Montezuma, " For a long 
time we have known, by means of our records, 
that we are not descended from the original in- 
habitants of this country. Our ancestors came 
from a distant land, and the prince of that land 
came to this country and lived among us for a 
while. We have long expected the return of his 



MONTEZUMA AND HERNANDO CORTES. 139 

descendants from the country where the sun 
rises. From what you say of your sovereign, we 
conclude that he is that powerful king whom we 
ought to acknowledge." 

" We certainly are those of whom it has 
been prophesied, great king," answered Coites. 
"We are the vassals of a most powerful monarch, 
called Don Carlos, who has many great princes 
subject to him. Having heard of the fame and 
grandeur of Montezuma, he has sent us in his 
name to tell the great Montezuma of the true 
religion, the holy Christian faith." 

^' Whatever is mine is at your disposal," said 
the courteous Montezuma. " Consider yourselves 
in your own land, in your own house. Rest and 
refresh yourselves after the toils and conflicts of 
your journey, for I have heard of them all from 
Tabasco to this place." 

Cortes offered profuse thanks. Montezuma 
now made a sign to his attendants, who brought 
forward the magnificent present which Monte- 
zuma never forgot, for he was anything but ava- 
ricous and grasping. To Cortes and his captains 
he gave gold, jewels, and bales of fine stuffs. 
Among the soldiers he distributed loads of rich 
mantles. 

" I am going to my other houses where I 



I40 MONTEZUMA. 

live," said the king. " I will order that you be 
provided with everything for your entertainment.** 

When he had gone, every Spaniard pro. 
nounced this a most noble and liberal prince. At 
sunset the Spanish artillery roared a salute. We 
may imagine the looks of terror with which the 
busy native population stopped in their various 
duties. Even Montezuma could hardly have 
avoided a terrified start. That night the invad- 
ing strangers slept on cool, canopied mats in 
the ancestral palace of Montezuma. In spite of 
the friendly demonstrations of the day, their guns 
guarded every entrance to the building, and their 
sentinels kept up a measured pace around its 
heavy walls. 

On the following day, Cortes requested per- 
mission to return Montezuma's visit. This was 
readily granted, and Aztec nobles were sent to 
escort him to the royal palace. He took with 
him four cavaliers, Alvarado, Sandoval, Velas- 
quez de Leon, and Ordaz, with five soldiers. 
They soon reached Montezuma's palace, for like 
the older building in which they were quartered. 
It stood near the great central temple of the 
city. The Spaniards were conducted through 
spacious court-yards, ornamented with fountains 
and filled with Aztec nobles waiting the pleasure 



MONTEZUMA AND HERNANDO CORTES. I4I 

of their king. They entered the great hall where 
Montezuma awaited them at the farther end 
seated on low cushions. The room was hung with 
tapestry of stained cotton, and roofed with spicy 
woods, while clouds of sweet incense filled the 
air. The nobles who attended the Spaniards had 
drawn rough garments over their richer dress, be- 
fore they entered the royal presence. Now, with 
eyes cast down, they approached the king. Mon- 
tezuma received the Spaniards very graciously. 
With a great deal of compliment and ceremony 
on the part of the general and the king, the 
Spaniards were finally seated, and Cortes began 
his talk. He attempted to explain to Montezuma 
his religion, the life of Christ, the symbol of the 
cross, the creation of the world, and the wicked 
nature of his own idols. We may well imagine 
that this discourse did not at all please the 
Mexican king who was especially devoted to his 
religion. 

" Malinche," said he, " I have already heard, 
through my ambassadors, of those things which 
you now mention and to which hitherto we have 
made no reply, because we have from the first 
worshipped the gods we now do, and consider 
them as just and good. So, no doubt, are yours. 
In regard to the creation of the world, our beliefs 



142 MONTEZUMA. 

are the same, and we also believe you to be 
people who were to come to us from where the 
sun rises. There have been people from your 
country before this, upon our coasts. I wish to 
know if you are all the same people." 

"We are all subjects of the same king," re- 
plied Cortes. 

*' If you were ever refused entrance to any of 
my cities,^' said Montezuma, " it was not my 
fault, but because the people were afraid of you 
and believed that you carried the thunder and 
lightning in your hands. I am aware that the 
Cempoallans and Tlascalans have told you many 
strange things of me," and Montezuma laughed 
in a frank way, which charmed the Spanish sold- 
iers. " These people, I know, have informed you 
that I possessed houses with walls of gold, and 
that my carpets and other things in common use 
were of the texture of gold. But you now see 
that my houses are built like other houses of 
lime, stone, and timber. They have asserted, I 
know, that I was a god, or made myself one, and 
many other such things. But," and Montezuma 
opened his robes, " you see that I am composed 
of flesh and bone like yourselves. See how they 
have deceived you. It is true I am a great king 
and inherit riches from my ancestors; but, as foj 



MONTEZUMA AND HERNANDO CORTES. I43 

these ridiculous falsehoods, you must treat them 
with the same contempt I do the stories I have 
been told of your carrying the thunder and light- 
ning with you.*' 

Cortes answered by complimenting the king 
on his real grandeur and power. The usual pres- 
ent was now brought forward. Gold and ten 
loads — one must remember that men were the 
only pack-horses — of fine stuffs were divided 
imong Cortes and his officers. Montezuma gave 
the soldiers each two collars of gold and a num- 
ber of mantles. This was done with an affability 
and indifference which made him appear a truly 
magnificent prince, in the words of one of the 
soldiers who was present. It being now Monte- 
zuma's hour for dining, Cortes took his leave. 
The Spanish soldiers expressed their admiration 
of the king on their way home. 

Cortes had taken the greatest care to keep 
his men shut up within the palace of Axayacatl 
knowing that the offences which might ensue 
from their association with the natives would 
speedily ruin his schemes. In the perilous game 
which he was playing, he now deemed it neces- 
sary to get a better knowledge of the city and 
its resources. He had been four days in Mexico, 
when he requested permission to visit the great 



144 MONTEZUMA. 

temple. Aguilar, Donna Marina, and a little 
page of the generals, who already understood 
something of the language, were sent to Monte- 
zuma's palace to make the request. The king 
readily consented. He knew of the Spanish en- 
mity to the Aztec idols, and fearing lest some 
violence might be offered to his gods, he re- 
solved to be there, to prevent it. Montezuma 
accordingly hastened, borne on his litter, to the 
great temple. He entered, with reverence, with- 
in the enclosure where the most of his youth 
had been spent. He passed across the polished 
pavement, by the low buildings devoted to the 
youth and to the priests, and the smaller tow- 
ers for the worship of minor deities, straight to 
the great temple. Here attendants awaited him 
who carried him up the long flights of steps. 
Having reached the summit, Montezuma retired 
to one of the sanctuaries for devotion. 

Meanwhile Cortes had left his quarters at the 
head of his cavalry and the most of his infantry. 
He marched first to the great market of the city. 
Here the Spaniards were struck with the immense 
variety of the merchandise offered for sale. One 
part of the market was devoted to the fresh 
meats, which consisted of wild game, turkey, fish 
and the flesh of a species of small dog. There 



MONTEZUMA AND HERNANDO CORTES. I45 

was also a great variety of vegetables and fruits, 
Indian meal, salt, honey, and sugar made from 
the corn-stalk were also sold. Corn-bread, sweet 
pastry, and various other warm dishes were dis- 
played in the market for sale. Another quarter 
of the square was devoted to fine and coarse 
earthen-ware, painted wooden vessels, and tools 
of copper or bronze. There was also cotton in 
skeins and woven into every variety of cloth, 
dyed and undyed, the coarse fabric made from 
the fibers of the magney, and the paper made 
from the pulp of this plant. The magney also 
furnished, in its spikes, needles for the natives, 
and from its juice was made a fermented liquor 
called pulque, which is much used in Mexico to- 
day. Chocolate, tobacco, and liquid amber were, 
offered for sale. There were many merchants in 
gold, silver, jewels, and feathers. Dressed deer- 
skins were also sold. Fire-wood was piled here 
and there, and stone and lime were deposited 
along the sides of the neighboring canals. Men 
sat in the market place hewing blades out of 
stone. Among the articles of merchandise in the 
market were slaves, fastened together by their 
collars attached to long poles. The Spaniards 
eyed this thriving scene with the utmost curiosity 
and admiration. 



146 MONTEZUMA. 

Cortes now proceeded to the temple. The 
white men passed for the first time within the 
' wall of serpents." They looked curiously at the 
gardens and strange buildings around them ; but 
they were especially struck with a near view of 
the great temple, second only in size to that of 
Cholula. At the foot of the pyramid were six 
priests and two nobles, who had been sent down 
by the king to carry the Spanish commander -up 
the steps. Cortes politely declined, however. 
The strangers mounted flight after flight of steps 
winding around the temple at the top of each 
stairway. Some of the soldiers counted a hun- 
dred and fourteen steps to the summit. As Cor- 
tes reached the broad platform on top of the 
pyramid, Montezuma came out from one of the 
two sanctuaries, and advanced to meet the general. 

" I fear you are weary, Malinche, with climb- 
ing our great temple," said he. 

"The Spaniards are never weary," boasted 
Cortes. 

All turned now to admire the beautiful view 
which lay spread out before them. Montezuma 
pointed out the various objects of interest. 
Around them lay the busy, humming city with 
its flat-roofed houses and gay gardens, encircled 
everywhere with water. They could plainly see 



MONTEZUMA AND HERNANDO CORTES. 147 

the great causeways which communicated with 
the land, and the aqueduct which brought sweet 
water from the hill of Chalpultepec. Canoes were 
constantly passing to and from the land, bearing 
provisions. In the distance could be seen the 
temple towers of many another city. Waving 
forests, long since destroyed by the hands of 
Europeans, lent beauty to the scene, and beyond 
all lay the rugged mountain barrier, while over 
all rose the glistening peak of Popocatepetl, with 
its somber cloud of smoke. The eyes of the 
strangers returned again to the white-washed brill- 
iancy of the city around them. The noise of the 
bustling market-place below rose up constantly, 
and could have been heard a league away, they 
thought. Adventurers who had seen Rome and 
Constantinople vowed that, for "regularity and 
population, they had never seen the like." 

**What a spot this would be to erect the cross 
upon,*' exclaimed Cortes, turning to Father 01- 
medo. 

" Do not think of it, for it would certainly be 
very ill-timed in our present situation," answered 
the wiser priest. 

" Would you do me the favor to show me 
your gods," said the commander turning to Men. 
tezuma. 



148 MONTEZUMA. 

The king held a little consultation with his 
priests, and then led the way into the lower 
room of a spacious tower. Here stood the altar 
of Huitzilopotchli, the god of war. Over it was 
the " accursed idol," as the Spaniards called it. 
It was an immense image with a horrible sym- 
bolical face and great eyes which made the 
strangers shudder. It was bound around with 
serpents of gold, and its body was entirely cov- 
ered with ornaments of gold and jewels. In the 
right hand was a bow, and in the left a bunch 
of arrows. Around the neck hung a great chain 
of hearts made of gold and silver and decorated 
with precious stones. Before it stood a platter 
containing five human hearts, which were slowly 
burning with incense of copal. The walls and 
floor of the room were stained with human blood. 
In the second tower was the image of Tezcatli- 
poca, the creator of the world, made of a pol- 
ished black substance. He also was literally cov- 
ered with gold and jewels, and five human hearts 
were lying before him. The scent was like that 
of a slaughter-house, and the Spaniards hastened 
again into the fresh air. 

"I do not see," said Cortes to Montezuma, 
" how so w ise a prince as you can worship these 
absurd and wicked powers. Only let me place 



MONTEZUMA AND HERNANDO CORTES. I49 

crosses on the summits of these towers and the 
image of the holy virgin within, and you will be 
soon convinced of the vanity and deception of 
these idols." 

" I would not have admitted you into our 
temple," said Montezuma, much displeased, " had 
I thought that you would have insulted our gods, 
who are kind to us, give us health, rains in their 
season, good harvests, fine weather, victories, and 
whatever else we desire of them, and whom we 
are in duty and gratitude bound to worship." 

Seeing that he had made a false step, Cortes 
said that it was time for him to go. 

" It is," gravely answered the king. ** I must 
remain behind to expiate the insult which has 
been offered to the gods." 

The Spaniards descended to the pavement of 
the court, which was so polished that the horses 
could scarcely keep their feet. They roamed 
around for a while, looking at the religious 
houses and the smaller temples within the enclo- 
sure, and then Cortes led his men back to theii 
quarters. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

MONTEZUMA TAKEN CAPTIVE. 

The sight of the abomination of Aztec idola* 
try seems to have awakened the enthusiasm of 
the Spaniards for their own religion. Cortes re- 
quested permission of Montezuma to build an 
altar in his own quarters. This was granted, and 
material was furnished him. While the Spanish 
carpenters were examining the palace for a suita- 
ble spot, they noticed a place where a door 
seemed recently to have been walled up. Cortes 
ordered it be privately opened. What a sight 
awaited the eyes of the Spaniards ! The door 
communicated with a room full of riches, a treas- 
ure which had been hoarded by Axayacatl, and 
had come down to Monteznma. The strange 
news was quickly spread in the army, and the 
soldiers all went to take a wondering look at the 
sight. Cortes then had the door carefully closed 
up as before, and the Spaniards concealed their 
knowledge of this treasure vault for the present. 



MONTEZUMA TAKEN CAPTIVE. 1$! 

The altar was soon erected, and mass celebrated 
in the Mexican palace. 

Cortes' whole undertaking had been rash, ad- 
venturous, and romantic to an extreme. It seems 
as though nothing less than a miracle could extri- 
cate him successfully from the position in which 
he had now placed himself. Were he to under- 
take to return through a country where the 
bloodshed he had caused had made him many 
enemies and where anything like retreat would be 
the signal fur war, and devote himself to the es- 
tablishment ol his colony at Villa Rica, it would 
be to risk extermination from the natives, on the 
one hand, and with the certainty of his authority 
being wrested from him by the governor of Cuba, 
on the other. Again, were he to await for Span- 
ish vessels to take him home, that he might carry 
the news of his discoveries to his monarch, it 
would be but to be thrown into prison while 
others reaped the rich harvest. With his handful 
of men in the heart of this great Mexican capital, 
he could not hope to conquer anything by mere 
force. Moreover, he must act immediately, for 
he could not hope with a turbulent, licentious 
soldiery, such as had worked their own ruin in 
many another Spanish colony, and a force of the 
detested Tlascalans to long maintain his friendly 



152 MONTEZUMA. 

footing with the Aztecs. "And, if Montezuma 
should take offence," said Cortes in his letter to 
the emperor, " he was powerful enough to do us 
much harm, so much indeed that we might be 
utterly destroyed." Cortes played a desperate 
game, and he was entirely unscrupulous as to the 
means he used. He saw, with wonderful shrewd- 
ness, one way to acquire power over this empire 
and its riches. The Aztec was to be governed 
by terror. It was from fear that he served his 
monarch and from fear that he sacrificed to his 
gods. So much were these people under the 
sway of terror that the missionaries of futuie 
years found it very hard to compel them by love 
or persuasion. Montezuma's own absolute mon- 
archy was his ruin. Without a head the body 
was as nothing. Thus it was that the unscrupu- 
lous Spanish adventurer — for Cortes was this — 
with wonderful greatness in the conception of his 
plans, resolved on the hazardous attempt to cap- 
ture the great Montezuma himself. 

The Spaniards had been but a week in Mexico 
when Cortes took his resolution, and immediately 
acted upon it as was his habit. He called a coun- 
cil of his men, and laid the difficulties of their 
position before them. Some were for retreat, and 
various projects were proposed. But, when Cortes 



MONTEZUMA TAKEN CAPTIVE. 1 53 

put forward his own bold proposition, the imagi- 
native minds of his followers took fire, and they 
joined him in the romantic project. *' It were bet- 
ter to die at once in such an undertaking than 
to risk our present precarious position," said one. 
** Yes," said another, "though Montezuma is very 
Hberal ; for no gift of his, not even all his father's 
treasure, could compensate us for the alarms and 
distressing thoughts which fill our minds. Who 
knows but at any moment we might perhaps be 
poisoned in our food." Thus the Spanish soldiers 
reconciled their easy consciences to an act of bad 
faith against a host whom they had found so 
gentle and affable, who had loaded them with 
gifts, and never refused one of their requests. 

Cortes appointed the following morning for 
the execution of his plan. There was little sleep 
in the Spanish quarters that night. The soldiers 
prayed for assistance in their hazardous project, 
and Cortes was heard walking the floor. He had 
indeed an accusation ready with which to charge 
the king. While at Cholula he had received word 
that in a skirmish between one of Montezuma's 
provinces and the Cempoallans Juan de Escalante, 
the commander at the post of Villa Rica, with 
seven of his men had been killed. Up to the 
present time, Cortes had kept the knowledge of 



154 MONTEZUMA. 

this affair from his men, dreading lest any dis- 
couragement should turn them back. Meantime, 
the head of one of the Spaniards, it is said, had 
been sent to Montezuma. Trembling at the sight, 
he had ordered it to be taken from the city. The 
natives who had been taken by the Spaniards in 
this skirmish, had accused Montezuma of instigat- 
ing the trouble. Now Cortes, in reality, cared not 
the value of a chestnut for the whole thing, in 
the words of the old chronicler. But he saw in 
this event a useful pretext for the adventure of 
the following morning. 

At break of day everything was astir in the 
Spanish camp. Cortes made a careful disposition 
of his forces within the quarters, that they might 
be prepared in case of trouble. He then sta- 
tioned soldiers at the street corners between 
his abode and the king's palace for ready com- 
munication. Choosing Alvarado, Sandoval, Leon, 
Lugo, and Avila, with Aguilar, and Donna Marina 
to accompany him, Cortes sent word to the king 
that he was about to pay him a visit. Monte 
zuma immediately prepared to receive the Span* 
iards, it being no unusual thing for them to rs 
quest an interview. The small band of Spaniards 
entered his audience hall, as usual, fully armed. 
Cortes and Montezuma carried on for some time 



MONTEZUMA TAKEN CAPTIVE. 155 

a " sportive " conversation through the two inter- 
preters, and the king, with his usual munificence, 
gave the general gold, and even offered him his 
daughter. At last Cortes said : 

" I have been informed of the fate of some of 
my Spaniards who were killed at Almeria, and 
that the governor, Qualpopoca, alleges, in defence 
of his conduct, that whatever he has done was 
in pursuance of orders from you, which, as your 
vassal, he could not disregard. I do not believe 
this can be true ; but, nevertheless, in order to 
clear yourself from the imputation in the eyes of 
my king, it seems to me proper that you should 
send for Qualpopoca and the other principal men 
of his city who have been concerned in the 
slaughter of the Spaniards, that the truth of the 
matter may be known and these men punished." 

Montezuma immediately called some men, 
and, unclasping from his arm a small stone pen- 
dant carved with the image of the war god, 
which seems to have been his seal, gave it to 
them, ordering them to bring the offenders of his 
sea-coast province to Mexico. His officers de- 
parted instantly, leaving Cortes but little pretext, 
certainly, for what he was about to do. 

" I am much gratified with your diligence in 
this matter," said Cortes, "since I must render an 



156 MONTEZUMA, 

account to my king of those who have been 
killed. Meantime, I must request you to come 
to my quarters until the truth is ascertained." 

Montezuma was for a moment perfectly as- 
tounded at the impudence of this demand. A 
pallor overspread his face. Then, summoning up 
all his dignity, he said : *' I am not a person to 
be put in prison. Even if I were to consent, my 
subjects would not suffer such a thing." 

**I beg you will not be annoyed at my re- 
quest," said Cortes ; " for you will not be treated 
as a prisoner, but will be in full possession of 
your liberty. You will enjoy the service of your 
subjects, who will continue to be at your com- 
mand. You have only to select an apartment 
such as would please you in the palace which I 
occupy, where you will be at your ease, and may 
rest assured that nothing will be allowed to give 
you pain or inconvenience, while, in addition to 
your own servants, my companions will cheerfully 
obey all your commands. 

The conversation was a prolonged one. Cor- 
tes gave, as the Spaniards thought, good reasons 
why Montezuma should comply, while the king 
certainly gave better reasons why he should not. 
The Spanish cavaliers grew impatient. The 
longer the discussion was prolonged, the greater 



MONTEZUMA TAKEN CAPTIVE. 1 57 

risk they ran, and, if they did not carry out their 
project, the proposal of it; would ruin them. 

" Why waste words ? " cried Velasquez de 
Leon, who had a gruff voice. '* Let him yield 
himself prisoner, or we will plunge our swords 
into his body. Better we should assure our lives 
now, or, if we must die, let us die in the at- 
tempt." 

The rough tone of the Spaniard struck 
harshly on the ear of Montezuma. He asked 
Donna Marina what he had said. It was a gen- 
tle woman's voice that interpreted the hard 
words to him. 

" I beg that your majesty will immediately 
consent," said Marina, *' and go where you will 
meet all respect and honor; for I perceive that if 
you hesitate, they are resolved to put you to 
death." 

" I have three legitimate children, a son and 
two daughters," said Montezuma, with a last 
effort. " Take them as hostages, in my place, but 
do not expose me as a prisoner before my own 
people." 

*' Nothing but what we originally pre posed 
will do," answered the stern general. 

Montezuma finally expressed his willingness to 
go. He immediately gave orders that his rooms 



IS8 MONTEZUMA. 

should be handsomely fitted up in the old palace. 
The Spaniards asked his pardon for what had 
passed, and begged that he would tell his follow- 
ers that it was done by his own free will, and 
according to the mandates of his gods. The weak 
and gentle king, who seems, from the first, to 
have been so strangely under the influence of the 
white men, was overwhelmed with grief. His 
nobles came to him stripped of their robes, which 
they carried on their arms. With tears in their 
eyes and amid a solemn silence, they placed him 
on his litter of state, and, with bowed heads, car- 
ried him from his own palace, which he was 
never again to enter. There was some little dis- 
turbance in the streets at this strange sight, but 
Montezuma with quick pride, as though the re- 
moval was made of his own free will, ordered 
quiet. He was received in the palace of Axaya- 
catl with due respect, and conducted to his apart- 
ments, which had been furnished with all the 
luxuries of a Mexican palace, tapestries of fine 
cotton and feather work, mats, canopies and lo\i 
seats. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

MONTEZUMA AS A PRISONER. 

The king was soon waited on by his relatives 
and the nobles of Mexico. They were astonished 
at this strange step, and inquired if they were to 
attack the Spaniards. But Montezuma said that 
he had only come here for a few days visit, of 
his own accord, and they were forced to accept 
this explanation. He held court and was at- 
tended here, just as he had been in his old pal- 
ace. Those of his women and of his family 
whom he wished to see, visited him or remained 
with him, and his officers came as usual to learn 
his commands in regard to the government of 
the kingdom. Ambassadors, chiefs, and princes 
frequently waited on Montezuma. No matter 
how high their position, they always put on the 
robe of coarse neguen, and approached the king 
with dowi.cast eyes, making the usual formal 
obeisance. The Spaniards also paid the greatest 
respect to the captive king. A soldier never 
entered Montezuma's presence without doffing 



l60 MONTEZUMA. 

his hat. Even Cortes observed this respectful 
courtesy, and neither he nor his men sat down 
in the ^m »sence of the king. 

After some fifteen or twenty days Qualpopoca 
arrived, borne on a litter and accompanied by 
some fifteen men who had been implicated in the 
affair with the Spaniards. They entered the 
royal presence with the usual signs of respect ; 
but Montezuma referred them to the Spanish 
general, as he was probably obliged to do. It 
did not take long, for Cortes to examine them, 
and sentence them to be burnt. It must be re- 
mem.bered that such cruel punishments were com- 
mon in that day. When the offenders learned 
their fate, they confessed that they had been 
acting under the orders of Montezuma. 

When the execution was about to take place, 
Cortes entered the apartment of Montezuma with 
a stern countenance, accompanied by a soldier 
bearing irons. He caused Montezuma to be 
shackled, and abruptly left the room. The indig- 
nity was terrible to the Aztec king. He uttered 
groans from time to time. His attendants are 
said to have taken his feet in their arms, and in- 
serted their mantles between his flesh and the 
Iron, and wept over them. 

Meanwhile, the execution took place in the 



MONTEZUMA AS A PRISONER. l6l 

public square in sight of the natives. The suf- 
ferers themselves bore their tortures with the 
same unflinching fortitude displayed by our 
northern Indians, The Spaniards were all under 
arms and the Mexicans offered no resistance. 
Cortes was holding the weapon of terror over 
them, as well as over Montezuma. 

When the execution was over, Cortes returned 
and, kneeling down before the cruelly humiliated 
king, loosened his bonds. With those soft words 
which he knew so well how to apply after harsh 
treatment, he assured Montezuma that he loved 
him like a brother. The Spanish general now 
ostentatiously offered the king his liberty, but 
Montezuma understood well the emptiness of his 
words. It is even said that the interpreters in- 
formed him at the same time that they made the 
offer, that, though Cortes would permit him to 
leave, his captains would not. Montezuma an- 
swered that he would remain where he was, In 
order to prevent insurrection and bloodshed in 
the city. The tears ran down his cheeks as he 
spoke. On hearing this answer, Cortes threw his 
arms around Montezuma's neck, and " protested 
that he loved him as himself." 

The king, it is said *' was wise enough to 
know the worth of" such protestations. Under 



l62 MONTELUMA. 

this ostentatious pantomine, did the Spanish ad- 
venturer and the Mexican king hide their real 
thoughts, and hopes, and fears. Montezuma is 
almost incomprehensible from the one-sided ac- 
counts that we have of him. The Spaniards 
themselves, from previous accounts, had expected 
to find him hard and haughty. On the contrary, 
he was gentle and almost effeminate. He was 
perhaps like his people, patient until aroused, — 
then fierce and persistent. But Montezuma, was 
the first to be caught and crushed by the on- 
coming wave of European civilization, which was 
to sweep over the continent. 

It being necessary to place a new governor at 
Villa Rica, Cortes appointed one Grado, a man 
of but little courage, who had been always one 
of the chief ones in besetting the general to 
return. " Now, Sefior de Grado," ironically ex- 
claimed Cortes, ** go and possess your wishes ; 
you are commandant of Villa Rica, and mind I 
charge you on no account to go out and fight 
the wicked Indians, nor let them kill you as they 
did Juan de Escalante." 

" All the world could not have got him to 
put his nose out of the town," says Bernal Diaz. 
Such a man as this was hardly to be trusted 
even with a post where there was nothing to 



MONTEZUMA AS A PRISONER. 163 

be done. He soon intrigued to place Villa Rica 
in the hands of Velasquez. Cortes found it 
very important to have a trustworthy officer at 
that post for the incensed governor of Cuba was 
likely at any time to try to wrest the settlement 
out of his hands. He accordingly recalled Grado, 
and appointed Gonzalo de Sandoval, a courageous 
young cavalier, in his place. 

Montezuma was now uniformly treated with 
the greatest respect. He requested of Cortes a 
page, who with the quickness of youth had 
learned the Mexican tongue. He kept this page 
constantly about him and amused himself by 
the hour in questioning him with regard to the 
peculiarities of Europe. When Montezuma arose 
in the morning he first attended his devotions. 
Having eaten a light breakfast of vegetables, he 
then transacted the business of his realm for 
an hour or more. Immediately after the cele- 
bration of mass, Cortes always waited on him 
attended by all his officers, and asked him if he 
had any commands for them. The king usually 
thanked him, and said that " he found everything 
perfectly to his satisfaction." Cortes would then 
remain for a while in the company of the king. 
Sometimes they engaged in a discussion upon 
the religion of the Spaniards or the power 0/ 



l64 MONTEZUMA. 

their emperor. Sometimes they played together 
a game called totoloque. It consisted in throw- 
ing little golden balls at certain figures made 
of gold. Montezuma staked valuable trinkets, 
such as jewels. If the king won he always gave 
his winnings, to the soldiers of the Spanish 
guard which was constantly in his apartment. 
Cortes, in turn, gave his winnings to Montezuma's 
attendants. On one occasion, Cortes and Alva- 
rado were playing against the king and his 
nephew. Montezuma had nick-named Alvarado 
Tonatiuh, or "the sun," on account of his hand- 
some face. 

" I will not permit Tonatiuh to mark,** said 
the king jokingly, " because he does not always 
say what is true.'* 

The Spaniards immediately burst into a laugh 
at the expense of the handsome cavalier; for he 
was much given to exaggeration. Such simple 
anecdotes, told by the soldier who was present, 
give us an insight into the daily life of the 
captive Mexican king. 

Montezuma won made himself greatly ad- 
mired by the Spanish soldiers. A day never 
passed without his lavishing presents upon his 
guard. He was particularly fond of Velasquez 
de Leon, who was the captain of his guard, and 



MONTEZUMA AS A PRISONER. 165 

was very attentive to the king. One night a 
soldier of the guard spoke disrespectfully of the 
king within his hearing. Montezuma was highly 
offended. He questioned his Spanish page as 
to who the man was. The youth assured him 
that he was but '*a man of low birth, who knew 
'^o better." At this the king became very 
curious about rank among the Spaniards, and 
put many questions to his page. On the next 
day he caused the rude soldier to be brought 
before him. Having rebuked him, he gave him 
a present of gold. The fellow was more im- 
pressed by the gold than by the rebuke. The 
following night, when he was again upon guard, 
he was guilty of the same piece of rudeness, 
hoping he would again get a present. Highly 
incensed, Montezuma complained to Velasquez de 
Leon who immediately administered a severe 
reprimand to the speculative soldier. 

At another time, a man who did not relish 
the rigorous duties which the guarding of so 
valuable a captive imposed upon them cried out, 

" Curse this dog of an Indian, who gives us 
so much trouble.'* 

Montezuma, having over heard this rough 
speech, succeeded in discovering what it meant. 
He complained of it to Cortes who sentenced 



l66 MONTEZUMA. 

the man to a severe whipping. This example 
had a good effect, and, after this, the guard kept 
silence to the great satisfaction of the punctilious 
king. Montezuma soon learned to know the 
soldiers, and called them all by name, treating 
them with the greatest kindness. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

INSURRECTION OF THE MEXICAN PRINCES. 

In spite of his great hostage, Cortes felt un- 
easy lest he should sometime find himself caught, 
shut up within the city of Mexico, without any 
means of reaching the mainland. He therefore 
asked Montezuma's permission to build two ves- 
sels for pleasure sailing on the lake. The king 
was pleased with the idea of seeing an example 
of the white man's sailing craft, and readily con- 
sented. Iron and rigging were brought from 
Villa Rica, where the salvage from the destroyed 
ships had been stored. Montezuma granted wood 
and carpenters. The army possessed in Martin 
Lopez a good ship builder, who superintended 
the native carpenters, and the work went rapidly 
ahead. 

Montezuma's pride was great. He could not 
bear that his own people should know of his hu- 
miliating position. He held court, and lived ex- 
actly as he had formerly done ; but one thing 
plainly showed that he was a prisoner. The de- 



l68 MONTEZUMA. 

vout king was no longer seen worshipping in the 
great temple. One day, Montezuma requested 
permission of Cortes to visit the temple, " in 
order,' he said, *' that my subjects may see that 
I live among you by the order of my gods and 
by my own choice.'* 

" You may go," sternly answered the general, 
" but, in doing so, it is your business to beware 
how you do anything whereby you may lose 
your life; for I will send a guard of soldiers with 
you, to whom I will give strict orders to kill 
you, instantly, in case there appears anything 
like a commotion." 

Cortes had also forbidden any human sacrifice 
on this occasion; but four victims had been killed 
the night before, probably in anticipation of the 
event. It was not in the power of the Span- 
iards in their own precarious position to enforce 
such rules very strictly. Montezuma's state-litter 
was brought : obsequious nobles attended him 
with bare feet and downcast eyes. A hundred 
and fifty soldiers, under Velasquez de Leon, Al- 
varado, Avila, and De Lugo, were drawn up as an 
escort. Before starting, the king scattered gifts 
to Mexicans and Spaniards alike. The procession 
then set out with great pomp. The Mexicans 
again saw their monarch in public, but he was 



INSURRECTION OF THE MEXICAN PRINCES. 169 

under the stern eye of the white man. Again the 
Spaniards entered the *' wall of serpents," again 
the clatter of horses hoofs, a strange sound on 
the pavements of Mexico, worn only by the in- 
cessant tramp of human feet, resounded in the 
sacred precincts of priest and idol. Montezuma 
was received at the foot of the temple by the 
priests. They assisted him up the stairways. 
We can imagine something of his petitions before 
his gods. When he had performed his devotions, 
Montezuma descended, and was borne back again. 
He returned in great good humor, and distributed 
presents among all. who had attended him. 

Meantime the new ships were finished and 
launched. Awnings were stretched over their 
decks, and they were manned with experienced 
sailors. Montezuma had expressed a desire to 
hunt again in his private hunting grounds. They 
were on the opposite shore of Lake Tezcuco, and 
Cortes proposed to convey the king and his at- 
tendants there, on board of the new ships. Mon- 
tezuma was pleased to try for himself the strange 
vessels. The king and his suite were put on 
board the swiftest sailing brigantine, while his 
son and a number of nobles occupied the other 
one. Two hundred soldiers were ordered out for 
the occasion, under command of De Leon, Al- 



I/O MONTEZUMA. 

varado, Olid, and Avila, all of them "mer. with 
blood in their eyes," as Bernal Diaz expresses it. 
A fleet of smaller boats surrounded the ships. 
The wind was fresh, and the sailors took delight 
ir exhibiting their skill before Montezuma. The 
canvas filled, and the little vessels got under 
way. They sped over the lake, leaving the na- 
tive canoes far behind them. How exhilarating 
the speed of motion must have been to Monte- 
zuma, who had never been carried in anything 
swifter than a litter or a canoe. He watched 
with delight the skilful manipulation of the 
boats by the sailors. Arrived at his hunting 
ground, the king amused himself for a time with 
this, his favorite sport. Having killed a quan- 
tity of deer and rabbits, he returned again to 
the vessels. The artillery was discharged on the 
homeward voyage, for his amusement. " He de- 
lighted us all," said Bernal, " by his affable and 
friendly behavior." 

One day a hawk flew through the king's 
apartments, pursuing a smaller bird. The Span- 
ish officers admired the beauty of the bird of 
prey. Montezuma was curious to know of what 
they were talking Their conversation was ex- 
plained to him and also how the Europeans 
tamed hawks and hunted with them. The king 



INSURRECTION OF THE MEXICAN PRINCES. I7I 

saij he would have the hawk caught for them. 
He gave directions to his hunters, who by the 
following morning had caught the bird and 
brought it to the Spanish officers. "It is not 
possible," says the soldier Bernal Diaz, " to de- 
scribe how noble Montezuma was in everything 
he did, nor the respect in which he was held 
by every one about him." 

Meantime, what were the Mexican people 
doing that they were so patient under this 
foreign rule ? They, too, perhaps, were oppressed 
by the dread superstition which weighed upon 
the mind of their king. But there was discontent 
among the nobles at Montezuma's attitude. 
His nephew, Cacama, king of Tezcuco, being now 
certain that Montezuma was a prisoner and 
he^^ring that he had opened the royal treasure- 
vault in his father's palace, was especially dis- 
gusted with the state of affairs. 

Cacama was an ambitious young man, and he 
formed a conspiracy with some princes and nobles 
to deliver the kingdom from the hands of the 
Spaniards. He fell into a dispute with one of 
the princes, however, as to which of them should 
have Montezuma's throne. By this means the 
plot reached the ears of Cortes and Montezuma, 
The king immediately forbade any such step, 



172 MONTEZUMA. 

Cortes proposed to him to head with his troopa 
a Mexican army which should march upon and 
destroy the city of Tezcuco; but Montezuma 
would not listen to such a proposal. Cortes then 
sent a friendly message to Cacama asking him 
to desist from his warlike preparations, as he 
wanted to be a friend to him. 

" I am not to be duped like others by 
plausible words," was Cacama's response. " I 
expect soon to see you, and then you may say 
what you will to me." 

Cortes again sent word to Cacama that, if he 
proceeded in hostilities, he would cause the loss 
of the king's life. Cacama anpwered that he 
cared neither for Montezuma, nor for Cortes ; for 
he was determined to persevere. Cortes now laid 
some plans before Montezuma to which the king 
agreed. He sent his nephew word that he was 
in the Spanish quarters of his own free will and 
in accordance with the advice of his gods. But 
the king of Tezcuco understood perfectly well 
the way in which such a message had been 
obtained. He boldly answered that he was de- 
termined to attack the Spaniards within four 
days. Cacama said openly that his uncle was 
but "a pitiful king, no better than a hen." As 
for him, *' he was determined to avenge the 



INSURRECTION OF THE MEXICAN PRINCES. 1 73 

wrongs of Montezuma and of his country, and 
that, if in so doing, the throne of Mexico fell 
to his lot, he would liberally reward his sup- 
porters." Some of the nobles had scruples 
against acting thus without the consent of their 
monarch. They proposed to send to Montezuma 
for instructions ; but Cacama, enraged, made 
several of them prisoners and thus intimidated 
the rest. He also sent a message to Montezuma, 
reproaching him for falling into disgrace by 
connecting himself with wizards and magicians 
whom he would speedily put to death. 

Montezuma was incensed at his nephew's in- 
solent message, and this served to further the 
plans of Cortes. The king took the seal from 
his wrist, and sent if to certain dissatisfied Tez- 
cucan nobles, telling them to capture Cacama and 
bring him there. Montezuma laid a plot by 
which Cacama was induced to attend a conference 
of nobles in a certain palace of his, which over- 
hung the lake so that boats could pass under 
it Canoes were stationed in readiness, and, at 
in appointed moment, Cacama was seized and 
hurried into a boat before a rescue could be 
attempted. An escort of boats hastened him 
over the lake: he was placed in a litter and borne 
to Montezuma's apartments. This king after 



174 MONTEZUMA. 

reprimanding him, delivered him into the hands 
of Cortes, who found himself in possession of 
another valuable hostage. Cortes now suggested 
to Montezuma that he should appoint a younger 
brother of Cacama's to the throne of Tezcuco, 
which was accordingly done. Some of the con- 
federate nobles were arrested, and the Spaniards 
had escaped another danger. 

Cortes now pressed Montezuma to give in his 
allegiance to the emperor of Spain. The king 
promised to summon his vassals for this purpose. 
He sent messengers to every part of his king- 
dom, and within ten days nearly all the caciques 
were assembled. Some few refused to attend so 
humiliating a meeting. Montezuma's page was 
the only Spaniard present. The king spoke. 

" You all know," said he, " that in our ancient 
prophecies we are told that, from those parts 
where the sun rises, men were to come to rule 
the country, and with their advent our empire 
should cease. I beHeve these men to be those 
spoken of in the prophecies. I have sacrificed to 
my gods, requesting an answer, in vain. They 
have but referred me to former answers. Where- 
by I conclude their will to be that obedience 
should be yielded to the king of these strangers, 
I now beseech you to give them some token of 



INSURRECTION OF THE MEXICAN PRINCES. 1 75 

submission. They require it of me. Let no one 
refuse. For eighteen years that I have reigned, 
I have been a kind monarch to you. You have 
been faithful subjects to me. Since my gods will 
have it so, indulge me by this one instance of 
obedience.*' 

Montezuma concluded his speech, bowed down 
with grief. The caciques sighed and wept. They 
said that they would do whatever he desired. 
He then sent word to Cortes that he and his 
vassals would tender formal submission on the 
following day. This meeting was attended by 
Cortes and the principal men of his little army. 
As on the day before, Montezuma addressed the 
nobles, asking them to give their allegiance to 
the Spanish monarch. His voice was broken by 
tears and sobs, " more than becomes a man to 
exhibit," said Cortes. For some time after Mon- 
tezuma stopped speaking, his vassals wept so 
that they could not answer him. Even the stern 
Spaniards could not keep back their tears at 
such a sight. The Aztec lords finally swore al- 
legiance to the Spanish emperor, and this a'^ 
was duly recorded by a royal notary. 



CHAPTER XX. 

DIVISION OF TREASURE. 

It is easy to conjecture that the first use that 
the Spanish plunderers made of this newly-ac- 
quired power over the Mexicans was to procure 
gold. Cortes learned from the king the position 
of his most valuable gold mines, and sent out 
men to explore them. He also represented to 
Montezuma that a contribution from the Mexican 
empire would be very acceptable to the Spanish 
emperor. We may well believe that Montezuma 
could not do otherwise than act on the sugges- 
tions of the Spanish general. He immediately 
sent out his officers to collect taxes, at the same 
time telling Cortes that he must not expect 
much gold from those provinces which did not 
possess gold mines. Within twenty days, a rich 
tribute had been collected. Montezuma imme- 
diately summoned a meeting of the Spaniards 
and, turning it over to them, said : 

*' Take this gold, which is all that could be col- 
lected on so short a notice, and also the treasure 



DIVISION OF TREASURE. 1 77 

which I derive from my ancestors, and which I 
know you have seen. Send it to your king, and 
let it be recorded in your annals that this is the 
tribute of Montezuma. What I now give you is 
the last of the treasure that remains with me." 

The Spanish soldiers doffed their helmets, and 
expressed their thanks. The secret treasure vault 
was opened, and all its riches surrendered to the 
Spaniards. This last great gift of the Mexican 
king was estimated at a hundred thousand ducats 
in value. Much of the gold had been worked 
up in a fantastic manner by the Aztec goldsmiths. 
The Spaniards were three days busily employed 
in separating it in pieces, which made three great 
piles on the floor. Much of the gold was melted 
into bars, while that of the finest workmanship 
was reserved as it was. 

The soldiers clamored for an immediate divis- 
ion of the spoil, which was destined to prove 
only an object of contention. A fifth of the treas- 
ure was laid aside for his majesty, another fifth 
for Cortes, a portion to pay for the expenses of 
fitting out of the fleet in Cuba, and in payment 
for the ships, another portion for the expenses of 
the agents who had been sent to Spain, still 
another portion for the soldiers at Villa Rica, and 
another for the captains and the priests. Double 



178 MONTEZUMA. 

shares were also apportioned the cavalry, musket- 
eers, and cross-bowmen, and, as may be imagined, 
what was left for the common soldiers was but 
small, compared with their high expectations. 
Loud murmurs arose. Some would not stoop to 
pick up what had been allotted them. Those who 
were loudest in their complaints were secretly si- 
lenced by Cortes, with bribes. Cortes and his 
captains had much of their gold made into heavy 
chains by Montezuma's goldsmiths. The general 
also had a service of plate made for his use. 
Some of his favorites had lined their pockets well. 
Cards were manufactured of drum heads, and 
deep gambling went on day and night in the 
Spanish camp. The ill-gotten treasure worked 
nothing but evil to those who had grasped it 
It had been " badly divided," says Bernal Diaz 
and was " worse employed." 

When the smothered discontent burst into 
flames, Cortes called his men together, and, says 
the soldier chronicler, " gave us a great many 
honied words, which he had an extraordinary 
facility for doing." He wondered, he said, " how 
men could be so solicitous about a little paltry 
gold, when the whole country will soon be ours, 
with all its rich mines of which there is enough 
to make you all great lords and princes." 



DIVISION OF TREASURE. I79 

Velasquez de Leon, having some very large 
chains and ornaments in the hands of the gold- 
smiths, was accused by the treasurer of having 
unfairly possessed himself of gold before the di- 
vision of the treasure. De Leon declared that 
Cortes had given it to him. He and the treas- 
urer fell to quarrelling, and drew their swords. 
Before any one could interfere, they had dealt 
each other several blows. Cortes immediately 
arrested them both. He released the treasurer, 
on account of his office, and privately desired 
Velasquez De Leon to submit for the sake of ap- 
pearances. Montezuma heard the clanking of the 
prisoner's chains, as he walked up and down his 
apartment. He inquired who it was, and when 
he found that it was Velasquez De Leon, for 
whom he entertained a friendship, the kind- 
hearted king interceded with Cortes in his behalf. 

" Oh, Velasquez is a mad fellow," said the 
general, laughing, " and, if I did not keep him 
confined, he would go up and down the country 
robbing the king's subjects of their gold.** 

" If it is only on that account that he is im- 
prisoned," said Montezuma, "I will supply his 
wants. So, I beg of you to release him." 

Cortes acceded, but pretended to do so only 
for the king's sake. He made a feint of banish- 



l80 MONTEZUMA. 

ing De Leon; but this cavalier was only gone 
some six days when he returned, richer than ever 
by means of the king's bounty. 

The Spaniards had long watched with impa- 
tience the open idolatry of the Mexicans. Em- 
boldened by his great power, Cortes determined 
to plant the symbols of his religion upon the 
very summit of the great temple. He watted 
upon Montezuma to inform him of his intentions 
The king earnestly begged to be allowed to con- 
sult his priests. Seeing his agitation, Cortes mo- 
tioned the Spanish soldiers from the room, and, 
retaining only Father Olmedo, held a private in- 
terview with Montezuma. The king, after a long 
conversation, sorrowfully consented to allow an 
altar and crucifix to be placed upon the great 
temple, on condition that no damage should be 
done the idols. He was present at the ceremony, 
which he in no wise relished. Whether the idols 
were left unmolested at this time or not is un- 
certain ; for there are two accounts of the event, 
which differ in this respect. 

Human nature will endure any thing rather 
than an attack on its prejudices. Their king 
might be seized, their nobles imprisoned, their 
revenues appropriated; but that the great struc- 
ture reared to the honor of Huitzilopotchli, whom 



DIVISION OF TREASURE. l8l 

their fathers had worshipped, should be desecrated 
by strangers touched the most sacred prejudices 
of every man, woman, and child in Mexico. 
Every little source of personal irritation in the 
conduct of the Spaniards was added to the 
religious insult. The priests fanned the smoth- 
ered flame. It was not to be expected that 
they would see the sacred precincts of their 
temple invaded without indignation and resent- 
ment. Montezuma was himself faithfully devoted 
to the belief of his fathers. He became moody 
and silent. He was frequently seen to hold 
conferences with his priests and chiefs, to which 
even the favorite page was not admitted. Affairs 
assumed a gloomy aspect for the Spaniards. 
They were in a state of constant alarm. 

Montezuma went into the court yard one 
day, accompanied by some of his nobles, and 
sent a message to Cortes, summoning him into 
his presence. The general was surprised, He 
had visited Montezuma daily but the king had 
never before sent for him. 

" I do not like this novelty," said he. " Please 
God there may be no mischief in it.* He 
immediately went to Montezuma. 

" Malinche, my gods are angry with me," 
said the king in much distress. ** I am grieved 



1 82 MONTEZUMA 

that it is so : but it is their determination that 
you shall be put to death or expelled from 
Mexico. I am your friend, as you well know, 
and I implore you on no account to run the 
risk ; but to save your lives while you may/' 

The kind-hearted king could not find it in 
his heart to prove treacherous to these strangers, 
for whom he had formed a certain attachment. 
Cortes could with difficulty conceal his uneasiness. 
But he immediately expressed his readiness to leave 
Mexico. " There are two things, however, that I 
have to regret in such a case," he added, with 
great presence of mind. " One is that I have no 
ships, and must build them before I can leave." 

" I will furnish carpenters to assist you," said 
Montezuma. 

" The other objection is," continued Cortes, 
" that I will have to take your majesty with me 
if I go." 

This announcement produced great distress 
and dejection on the part of the king. 

" I entreat your majesty," said Cortes, " that 
you will restrain your priests and warriors, and 
endeavor to appease your gods, provided it 
is not by human sacrifice, until I can build 
three ships. If this is not acceded to, we are all 
resolved to die to the very last man. * 



DIVISION OF TREASURE. 1 83 

Accordingly Spanish ship-builders and native 
carpenters were sent to Villa Rica to build the 
ships, and Cortes gained a respite, in which he 
probably hoped to find some better road out of 
his difficulties. A dark cloud seemed gathering 
over the Spaniards. Donna Marina daily gained 
some new piece of menacing information. Mon- 
iJtezuma's Spanish page also was dejected, and fre- 
quently in tears from the portentous hints which 
constantly reached him from those nearest the 
person of Montezuma. The little band of Span- 
iards kept a wearisome watch. They slept in their 
armor, and their horses stood always saddled and 
bridled. So accustomed did they become to these 
habits of watchfulness, that Bernal Diaz says that, 
long years after, he always got up several times 
during the night, and walked back and forth as 
he used to do when on guard. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

"VELASQUEZ INTEFERES. 

It was now late in the spring of 1520, and 
Montezuma had been some six months a prisoner. 
Meantime, the envoy of the discoverers had 
reached Spain, only to be subject to various de- 
lays. The rich treasures of Mexico were duly ad- 
mired ; but Charles the Fifth was on the way to 
his imperial dominions in Germany, and the quar- 
rels of the rulers and the rights of the conquer- 
ors in the new world were neglected in the hurry 
of embarkation. Meantime, Fonesca, bishop of 
Burgos, who had control of that department of 
the government relating to the colonies in the 
new world, was about to be connected by mar 
riage with Velasquez, and consequently favored 
the latter's pretentions. But Velasquez, enraged 
b} the knowledge that Cortes had despatched a 
richly-laden vessel directly to Spain, had not 
waited for any further authority. He had ex- 
erted himself to the utmost, and raised the larg- 
est fleet yet manned in the new world. He had 



VELASQUEZ INTERFERES. 18$ 

visited in person every considerable town in the 
island of Cuba, to gain recruits for the new ex- 
pedition. The repute of the riches of Mexico 
was sufficient to make men eager to embark for 
this country, and Cuba seemed almost depopulat- 
ed of white men in manning the new armada. 

Meantime the royal Audience at St. Domingo, 
hearing of the ambitious project of Velasquez, 
and fearing lest the interests of the government 
should be compromised by such a proceeding, 
sent one of their number, the licentiate Ayllon, 
to Cuba, to stay the sailing of the fleet. He 
found the governor at the western extremity of 
the island busily employed in preparations for 
embarkation. Ayllon's representations had no 
effect on the determined governor. Unable to 
stop the proceedings against Cortes, Ayllon em- 
barked on board the fleet, hoping by his presence 
to prevent a fatal collison between the two 
forces. 

The new armada consisted of eighteen ves- 
sels, under the command of Panfilo de Narvaez, 
described as a '' tall, stout-limbed " person, " with 
a large head and red beard, an agreeable presence, 
and a deep and sonorous voice, as though it 
rose from a cavern." He had already had some 
experience in the relentless Indian warfare of the 



1 86 MONTEZUMA. 

islands. The expedition was well supplied with 
heavy guns and ammunition. There were eighty 
horsemen, eighty arquebusiers, a hundred and 
fifty cross-bowmen, and nine hundred men in all. 
Arrived off the site of the present Vera Cruz, 
one of Cortes* men who had been sent in search 
of mines came on board the fleet. From him 
Narvaez and his companions learned the won- 
drous story of the march to Mexico, the capture 
of Montezuma, and Cortes' unlimited power over 
the Mexican empire. The Spaniards listened in 
amazement, and Narvaez was filled with jealous 
indignation. 

Meanwhile, native messengers had hurried to 
Cortes with the news that eighteen vessels had 
been seen off the coast. Concealing this news, 
as it appears, from his men, Cortes immediately 
dispatched messengers to the sea-coast for further 
information with regard to the fleet. He had 
to wait fifteen anxious days before a native 
embassy arrived for Montezuma with paintings 
depicting the number of men, horses, and cannon 
of these newly-arrived strangers. Narvaez also 
sent a private message to the king, stigmatizing 
Cortes and his men as outcasts and robbers, 
and promising soon to come and release him. 
This news seems to have awakened some hope 



VELASQUEZ INTERFERES. 1 8/ 

in the heart of the captive. Cortes, however, 
pretended to feel the greatest joy at the arrival 
of his countrymen. He immediately informed 
his men that re-inforcements were come, and they 
expressed their joy by volleys of musketry. They 
soon saw, however, that when Cortes had left 
Montezuma he became very gloomy. He pri- 
vately informed his men that he was suspicious 
that the arrival of this armada boded anything 
but good for them. The wily general now made 
good use of his gold to wipe out any dissatis- 
faction which the previous division of treasure 
had caused. His men must be attached to him 
at any expense. 

Hearing of the poor little colony at Villa 
Rica, Narvaez sent Sandoval a summons to sur- 
render by an embassy consisting of a priest, a 
notary, and a relative of Velasquez. Sandoval, 
having already heard of the arrival of the hostile 
fleet, had made every preparation within his power 
for resistance. The deputation having arrived at 
Villa Rica, Guevera, the priest, addressed the 
commandant. 

** The governor of Cuba has sent a great 
force," said he, *' at an immense expense, for the 
purpose of arresting Cortes and all his men as 
traitors. I therefore summon you to surrender 
this post to General Panfilo de Narvaez." 



1 88 MONTEZUMA. 

"If it were not for the protection that your 
holy office affords you,** cried Sandoval, "I would 
punish you for this insolence, in using the word 
traitors, to those who are more faithful subjects 
to his majesty than either Narvaez or Velasquez. 
As to your demands, that is the affair of Cortes. 
Go to Mexico, and settle your business with him 
there." 

But the priest insisted. " Vergara, produce 
your authorities," said he, turning to the notary 
who accompanied him, and who immediately be- 
gan to take out his papers. 

** Look you, Vergara," exclaimed Sandoval, 
**your papers are nothing to me. I know not 
whether they are true or false, originals or cop- 
ies ; but I forbid you to read them here, and, 
by heaven, if you attempt it, I will this instant 
give you a hundred lashes." 

*' Why do you mind these traitors ? " cried 
Guevara. " Read the commission." 

* You lying knaves!" cried the irate command- 
ant, ordering all three of them to be seized and 
securely bound. He immediately packed them 
off for Mexico on the oacks of Indian porters. 
Thus the priest, notary, and governor's relative^ 
bound up like so much merchandise, were hur- 
ried on through strange cities, by forests, and ovei 



VELASQUEZ INTERFERES. 189 

xxitountdins, fresh relays ot porters relieving the 
old ones from time to time. The astounded 
Spaniards reached Mexico, accompanied by a 
hasty line from Sandoval, explaining their sit- 
uation. Cortes received them with every honor, 
relieved them of their bonds, and apologized for 
the rudeness of his officer. He entertained them 
handsomely, and treated them with consideration. 
Having " lined their pockets well with gold," in 
the words of Bernal Diaz, " he, in a few days 
sent back as tractable as lambs, those who had 
set out against him like furious lions," bearing 
with them a conciliatory letter to Narvaez. 

Meantime, Cortes had discovered through 
Guevara and Vergara that Narvaez was not a 
favorite with his officers, and that " gold would 
do wonders" with these adventurers, whose hearts 
were more set upon the discovery of riches 
than upon the authority of Velasquez. Cortes 
now chose the discreet Father Olmedo as an am- 
bassador to the camp of Narvaez. He wrote 
Narvaez a letter, representing the suicidal folly of 
exhibiting their animosities and divisions before 
the natives, and thus tempting those to fall upon 
them, who were now ready to do anything to 
rescue Montezuma. Cortes offered to share his 
conquests with him, or to submit to him if he 



190 MONTEZUMA. 

could show a royal commission, which he well 
knew Narvaez did not possess. Cortes also wrote 
a letter to Ayllon and to his old friend Duero, 
who was of the expedition. Armed with these 
missives and a plentiful supply of gold, Father 
Olmedo set out upon his mission. 

Narvaez had left the coast and marched to 
Cempoalla. His first act on his arrival at this 
city proved his incapacity for the management 
of the conquest. He took forcibly from the 
" fat cacique" all the gold and mantles in his 
possession, and also the women who had been 
given to Cortes' men, and whom they had left in 
charge of the chief. The cacique was incensed 
at this, and dreaded lest Cortes should call him 
to account for it. Narvaez also began to show 
a penuriousness which disgusted the gold-seek- 
ing adventurers who were following his standard. 
He would say in pompous tones, " Take heed 
that not a mantle is missing, for I have duly en- 
tered every article." 

When the first letter of Cortes was received 
by Narvaez, he read it with angry contempt. 
Guevara and his companions, however, were loud 
jn their praises of Cortes, assuring their com- 
mander that Cortes had always spoken of him in 
terms of the highest respect. Whereupo:i Narvaez 



VELASQUEZ INTERFERES. I9I 

flew into a rage, and would have nothing more to 
tuy to them. They immediately went out among 
th'ir comrades, and boasted of Cortes' riches. 
When the soldiers saw the gold with which they 
had been well supplied, they began to wish 
themselves under the other general. 

Father Olmedo arrived soon after. He first 
piehcnted himself to Narvaez, and paid his re- 
spects. He endeavored to bring about an ar- 
rangement between the rival generals, but Narvaez 
treated him to so much abuse that he abandoned 
this part of his task, and went to deliver the 
other letters, each of which was accompanied by 
a liberal present. He used his persuasive powers 
to good purpose among the officers of Narvaez* 
army, especially as they were backed up by 
handsome presents of gold. Narvaez, indeed, 
suspected the real purpose of Father Olmedo, 
and was on the point of seizing him ; but 
Duero remonstrated in his behalf, and he es- 
caped by virtue of his orders. Narvaez boasted 
loudly that he was going to march upon Mexico 
and force Cortes to submit. The licentiate, 
Ayllcn, was shipped home by the indignant com- 
mander, who was determined to hear no more 
of his remonstrances. 

What was the astonishment of the natives 



192 MONTEZUMA. 

to discover that these new arrivals were enemies 
to the other white men who had landed on their 
coasts. 

Sandoval sent word to Cortes that Nar/aez 
was about to march upon Mexico, and that 
something must be done. Cortes himse^i felt the 
need for immediate action. If the rival generals 
must fight it out, Mexico must not be the 
battle ground ; for this would be ruinous to all 
that had been so far gained in the conquest of 
the country. At the same time, he would run 
great risk in leaving Mexico in its present 
situation, and it seemed a fool-hardy venture to 
march with the few men he could spare against 
the four times greater forces of Narvaez. But 
Cortes always faced his difficulties boldly and 
without delay. He never lay quietly awaiting 
the enemy, but gave his men the advantage of 
the attack. He resolved to make a rapid move 
for Cempoalla, at the same time hoping to effect 
a compromise if possible. Choosing his bravest 
and hardiest men to accompany him, Cortes 
strengthened the palace of Axayacatl by a strong 
palisade. He appointed Alvarado to the com^ 
mand of the post, and left about a hundred and 
forty men with four cannon, twenty-four muskets 
and cross-bows, and seven horses to overawe 



VELASQUEZ INTERFERES. I93 

Monteziuma and Mexico. Before leaving Cortes 
held an interview with Montezuma. 

" How is it Malinche," asked Montezuma 
"that you march against this other chief, you 
both being of the same country and subjects of 
the same king." 

" I have not before mentioned the subject of 
my departure," answered Cortes, with assumed 
cheerfulness, " because I knew it would give your 
majesty concern. It is true that we are of the 
same country, but not true as these others assert 
that we are traitors. Your majesty will soon see 
the difference between us, as I hope, by the bless- 
ing of God, soon to bring these others back 
prisoners. Our going need, therefore, give your 
Majesty no uneasiness, and I hope that you 
will do the utmost in your power to prevent 
an insurrection in the city, as I certainly shall, 
on my return, make those who have behaved 
ill answer for it." 

With this ominous threat, Cortes embraced 
Montezuma twice, and they took an affecting 
leave of one another. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

A NIGHT BATTLE. 

Unencumbered with baggage, Cortes and 
hii men made a rapid march for Cempoalla. At 
Cholula they were met by Velasquez de Leon, 
who had been sent out with a small force to 
plant a colony upon one of the rivers running 
into the Gulf of Mexico. Velasquez had of old 
been a partisan of his kinsman, the governor, but 
he had long since been gained over by the politic 
Cortes. Narvaez had sent him a summons to 
surrender, but he had immediately started out to 
join forces with Cortes. This general received 
him with warm embraces, for he was in dire need 
of all the forces he could muster. He also wrote 
to Sandoval, ordering him to abandon Villa Rica 
and join him at a certain place on the road. 

Cortes sent a message from Cholula to the 
Tlascalans, asking them for a force of several 
thousand warriors. ** If it is against Indians we 
are ready to go, ' they answered, " but if against 
your own countrymen, we beg to be excused." 



A NIGHT BATTLE. I95 

Cortes pressed the matter no farther, for he 
wanted no unwilling recruits. 

The Spaniards marched on, sending out scouts 
ahead. They were met by messengers from the 
army of Narvaez, bearing his commissions. The 
principal messenger, one Mata, immediately took 
out the documents, and began to read them. 

** Are you a royal notary?" inquired Cortes 
sternly, interrupting him. He knew well that 
Narvaez had no royal commission, and he made 
this his excuse for not submitting to his author- 
ity. Mata stopped reading, and Cortes told him 
that he would permit the reading of no supposed 
orders, unless they were indeed those of his ma- 
jesty, in which case he would submit, prostrate 
on the ground. Having frightened the man out 
of reading the commission from Velasquez, which 
was in reality good enough authority — for the 
governor of Cuba had received authority to colo- 
nize on the mainland since he had given Cortes 
his commission— this general entertained him in a 
friendly manner. After using his usual persua- 
sive words and golden arguments, Cortes sent 
the messengers back to Narvaez' camp, to spread 
among the soldiers, praises of his generosity and 
accounts of the gold ornaments which Cortes 
men wore in profusion. 



19^ MONTEZUMA. 

Sandoval with some sixty men soon joined 
the little army. He gave an account of his hav- 
ing sent two of his men, disguised like Indians, 
as spies into the hostile camp. They had gone 
to the quarters of a braggart officer, named Salva- 
tierra, and offered to sell him fruit. He had paid 
them with a string of yellow beads, and sent 
them to procure grass for his horse. They did 
this and returned to the camp, where they re- 
mained during the evening. They heard Salva- 
tierra remark to his comrades, that they had 
luckily come just in time to get the seven hun- 
dred thousand crowns which that traitor Cortes 
had gotten from Montezuma. At night the dis- 
guised soldiers slipped away with Salvatierra's 
horse, saddle, and bridle, and also a lame horse 
which they came across. Cortes and his men 
laughed heartily at this story, and moved on in 
cheerful spirits. 

On first hearing of the arrival of Narvaez, 
Cortes, with his usual forethought, had sent to a 
distant province of Montezuma's kingdom where 
copper was plenty an order for the manufacture 
of some copper- headed lances for use against cav- 
alry. These lances now arrived, being excellently 
made. 

Cortes and Narvaez had been negotiating for 



A NIGHT BATTLE. I97 

a personal meeting at an equal distance between 
the armies, at which the former had some hopes 
of making a peaceable arrangement. Narvaez, 
however, plotted to assassinate his troublesome 
rival at this interview. A messenger was to be 
sent from Narvaez to make the necessary arrange- 
ments. Duero planned that he should be given 
this commission. He rode to the camp of Cortes 
with whom he had a private errand of his own. 
He seems to have made an agreement of partner- 
ship with Cortes, when he and Lares, who was 
now dead, had procured the general the command 
of the expedition. He now wanted to know if 
Cortes would divide his rich treasure with him. 
This Cortes readily consented to do, and imme- 
diately displayed immense liberality in his pres- 
ents. After remaining with the general some 
time, Duero mounted his horse. 

" Have you any commands for me, Seftor 
Cortes ? '* he asked. 

*' Only that I wish to remind you,'* was the 
reply, " not to deviate from what we have just 
agreed; for, by my conscience, if you do, 1 will 
be in your quarters in three days, and you will 
be the very first person at whom I will throw 
my lance." 

Duero laughed as he galloped away, Wc 



1 98 MONTEZUMA. 

may well believe that Cortes was not now to be 
caught in Narvaez' trap. He sent for Velasquez 
de Leon. 

" Senor Velasquez de Leon,'' said Cortes in 
his most persuasive tones, " Duero has informed 
me that Narvaez is anxious to see you in his 
camp, and that it is reported if you go thither 
I am an undone man. Now, my dear friend, 
mount your gray mare, put on your gold chain, 
wear all your valuables and more too, which I 
will give you, go to Narvaez immediately, and 
distribute the gold with which I shall provide 
you, according to my directions." 

Velasquez at first objected to taking his 
treasure with him, but Cortes persuaded him to do 
so. Some two hours after the departure of this 
cavalier glittering with golden ornaments, the drum 
beat to arms and the army moved on to a little 
stream where they encamped for the night. 

Arrived at Cempoalla in the early morning, 
Velasquez de Leon was warmly embraced by 
Narvaez, who felt sure that he now saw a cava- 
lier who would be anxious to join the standard 
of his kinsman. 

*' I came," began De Leon, " hoping to 
make an amicable arrangement between you and 
Cortes." 



A NIGHT BATTLE. I99 

" How can you talk of treating with such a 
traitor," whispered Narvaez, drawing him aside. 

" Apply no such epithet to Cortes in my 
presence, Sefior Narvaez," answered De Leon. 

*' Why, look you, De Leon," persisted Nar- 
vaez, " if you will renounce Cortes, I will make 
you second in command." 

" No, Sefior Narvaez, I would be a villain, if 
I quitted one who has done so much for God 
and the king." 

By this time, a number of Narvaez' officers had 
come in to salute the new comer. His immense 
gold chain, which hung double on his shoulders, 
and his numerous other ornaments impressed 
them with respect, and he seemed to them, 
indeed, '* a gallant soldier." Narvaez was at a 
stand what to do when Father Olmedo, who 
had come to the camp some days ago and who, 
having patched up a relationship with the boast- 
ing Salvatierra, was enjoying his hospitality, 
stepped up to Narvaez, and said, in a confidential 
whisper : 

" Let your excellency order out your troops, 
under arms, and show him what your force is, 
that Cortes may know and be terrified at it " 

Narvaez did so. This was exactly what De 
Leon, as a spy, wanted. Before he left Narvaez 



too MONTEZUMA. 

camp, he came near getting into a duel with a 
young man who spoke insultingly of Cortes. But 
he and Father Olmedo were advised by Cortes* 
secret friends to get away as quickly as possible, 
V'hich they accordingly did. Their comrades were 
resting on a river bank after a long sultry march 
when the two messengers arrived. They were 
greeted with joy, and officers and men gathered 
around to hear their story. Velasquez first told 
Cortes how he had executed his commission and 
distributed the gold. Then Father Olmedo, who 
was a jolly priest, imitated the pompous airs of 
Narvaez and the bragging of Salvatierra, and 
related how he had made him believe that he 
was a relation of his. The soldiers had a merry 
laugh together, dismissing from their minds the 
thought that on the morrow they were to meet 
four times their number in battle, 

Meantime Narvaez began to think it time to 
prepare against an attack. He now declared war 
against " the traitors" with ** fire, sword, and rope." 
He then drew up his forces on a plain near Cem- 
poalla. It would have been a formidable array for 
Cortes to face. But the rain poured down in tor- 
rents, night was coming on, and Narvaez' troops, 
unaccustomed to hardships, grew discontented. 
The officers advised Narvaez to return to quarters, 



A NIGHT BATTLE. 201 

as there was no danger of an attack from the en- 
emy on such a night, and as the forces of Cortes 
were entirely contemptible at any rate. Narvaez 
accordingly marched back to his quarters, which 
were the principal temple of Cempoalla. He 
formed his eighteen guns in front of the pyramid. 
A guard of forty cavalry was kept out and two 
sentinels were posted on the road to Cempoalla. 

Meantime Cortes and his men had arrived in 
the darkness and storm at the river which ran a 
league from Cempoalla. Sitting on horseback, 
Cortes made his men a stirring speech, praising 
their courage, denouncing the interference of 
Velasquez in their conquests, admitting the supe- 
rior numbers of the enemy, but reminding them 
under what fearful odds they had frequently 
fought, and saying nothing of their having friends 
in the enemy's rank, for he wished them to de- 
pend on their courage alone. 

'* We will conquer or die," shouted the men. 
" Say no more of an accommodation with Velas- 
quez, or we will plunge our swords in your 
body." 

This was exactly what Cortes wanted. He 
applauded such a resolution, and then, gave the 
directions for the attack. The countersign was 
** Spiritu Santo." He promised three thousand 



202 MONTEZUMA. 

crowns to :he man who first laid hands on Nar- 
vaez, ** to buy gloves," as he said. The men had 
but one wish, and that was for armor. Jackets of 
wadded cotton might protect them from Indian's 
arrows, but they were no defence against cannon 
and musket balls, and gold chains and bracelets 
were poor protection. Any one of the soldiers 
would have sacrificed all his gold for a breast- 
plate or helmet on this night. Supperless and in 
the rain and darkness, the valiant little band set 
forward. Silently and at a quick pace, they 
marched to the ford where they surprised the 
enemy's outposts. One of them they captured, 
but the other one escaped to the town. The 
river was greatly swollen, and it was with diffi- 
culty that the men reached the other bank. 
Cortes now hurried ahead, sure that the enemy 
would be prepared for him, from the flight of the 
sentinel. He and his men knew the city well 
They marched straight for the temple, where a 
fire could be seen burning. 

Meantime the sentinel had fled with the tid 
ings to the camp of Narvaez, only to be scofled 
at, for the men could not believe that Cortes 
and his men could be out on such a night 
** You have mistaken the noise of the storm 
and the waving of the bushes for an enemy, 



A NIGHT BATTLE. 203 

they said. But when the little band was heard 
tramping steadily through the city and the na- 
tives brought the alarm, the general and his men 
hastened to arms. In a few moments, the enemy 
was upon them. A detachment, according to 
previous arrangements rushed upon the cannon. 
Narvaez' men had had time to apply the match 
to four guns only, which killed three men. In 
the next instant the Cortes men sprang upon the 
artillery-men, piercing and knocking them down. 
A second division, under Cortes himself, closed 
with the cavalry in the courtyard, and a third 
under Sandoval sprang up the broad stairway 
which ran up the face of the pyramid. They 
were greeted by showers of missiles which pro- 
duced little effect, from the lack of ability to aim 
in the darkness. The assailants reached the sum- 
mit, where a fierce battle ensued. Narvaez ac- 
quitted himself with the utmost courage, until 
one of the enemy's long spears put out one of 
his eyes. 

" Santa Maria, I am killed " he cried. 

" Victory ! victory ! Narvaez is dead," shouted 
the assailants. 

The wounded general was withdrawn into the 
sanctuary which crowned the pyramid, and here 
his men held out until Martin Lopez, the ship 



204 MONTEZUMA. 

builder, who was a very tall man, set fire to the 
thatch roof with a fire brand. The occupants 
were soon driven out by the smoke. An eager 
soldier grasped Narvaez, and his followers sub- 
mitted. 

*' Victory! victory! Long live our king and 
Cortes ! " shouted Sandoval's men. 

But Cortes was busy assailing those of the 
enemy's forces who still held out in the neigh- 
boring temples. He turned their own guns upon 
them. One of them was under the command of 
the braggart Salvatiera, who, immediately on hear- 
ing of the capture of Narvaez, was seized with a 
pain in his stomach. The posts, aided doubtless 
by the disaffection among their men, were soon 
brought to submit. The cavalry also which had 
been posted without the city and which Cortes 
fortunately had not met soon tendered their sub- 
mission. The assailants had been aided by a 
host of fire-flys which filling the air, had been 
taken by the confused soldiers of Narvaez' camp 
for the match-locks of the on-coming host. They 
NGVQ both astonished and disgusted when day- 
light showed them how small had been the num 
bers of their assailants. 

At dawn, Cortes seated himself in an arm-chair 
and having thrown an orange-colored mantle ovet 



A NIGHT BATTLE. 20$ 

his shoulders, he received the salutations of his 
newly-acquired troops, who kissed his hands. The 
air was filled with martial music and shouts in 
honor of the victorious general. He immediately 
set about winning the affections of his new troops 
by his generous treatment of them. He ordered 
all the horses and arms which had been captured 
to be returned to them, greatly to the disgust of 
the victors. Bernal Diaz says that he was forced 
to surrender a good horse and trappings, two 
swords, three poniards, and a shield which he had 
put away in a safe place. Cortes' veterans com- 
plained that he lavished all the favors upon these 
new men, and took no notice of them. Never- 
theless, their general understood what was best 
for the success of their plans. 

Hernando Cortes now found himself thus op- 
portunely supplied with recruits, artillery, and 
horsemen. He acted immediately upon his plans 
for conquest and discovery. Two detachments 
were sent out under Ordaz and De Leon to dis- 
tant provinces. Cortes was dismantling the fleet 
and quietly making preparations to leave the sea- 
coast for the interior, when news reached the 
Spaniards of trouble in the City of Mexico. 



CHAPTER XXIIL 

THE MEXICANS IN ARMS. 

There can be little doubt that the Mexicans 
had borne the foreign rule and the indignities 
offered their king longer than they had intended. 
They had resolved to expel the Spaniards from 
Mexico before the arrival of Narvaez, and had 
importuned Montezuma for his consent. Influ- 
enced by fear and superstitious awe of these 
strangely powerful visitors and even, it seems, 
by a certain affection for them, he had restrained 
his people yet a little while, hoping against 
hope that the Spaniards would yet leave him 
peaceably to the enjoyment of his old honors 
and power. He had heard with a momentary 
gleam of joy the news of the arrival of more 
ships off his coast. Now, surely, the Spaniards 
could return. But no ! Narvaez had sent him a 
message to the effect that the great chief Cortes 
was but a traitor, that he had come to subdue 
him, and would then liberate Montezuma, and 
leave the country. The hospitable king had 



THE MEXICANS IN ARMS. 207 

sent the new general a handsome present but 
seems to have put little faith in Spanish promises. 
He was in the power of Cortes. He could only 
await the result. Meantime, "Away with them 
all," was the sentiment of the Mexicans. They 
did not want a new army of Spaniards any more 
than they wanted the old. Narvaez had assured 
them that he would take Cortes. With secret 
joy, they saw this bold general leave their city. 
They knew " Malinche " too well to imagine that 
he would be captured without a severe struggle. 
When this had been accomplished, they thought, 
and the two armies had been weakened by 
their civil war, they would exterminate the 
garrison in the palace of Axayacatl, which still 
held Montezuma prisoner. They would then 
make a united attack upon Narvaez' army, and 
completely exterminate the Spanish race in their 
land. They were undoubtedly plotting the attack 
which Alvarado, by a rash and cruel deed, 
brought down upon his own head with terrible 
'brce. 

Every Mexican month had its curious heathen 
festivals. In the fifth month, which began on 
the seventeenth of May, the festival to the god 
Tezcatlipoca, who shared with the war god the 
honors of the great temple, was celebrated. This 



208 MONTEZUMA. 

festival was intended to implore fertility and 
abundance. The Mexicans asked of Alvarado 
permission to celebrate the ceremony, as usual. 
To this he consented although he did not allow 
Montezuma to leave the palace to attend it, 
fearful of losing his distinguished captive. 

Ten days before the festival, a priest, dressed 
in the particular livery of the god, passed out of 
the temple gates bearing a bunch of flowers in 
one hand and a little flute of clay in the other. 
He blew upon the instrument, which gave a very 
shrill sound, first towards the east and then to- 
wards each of the other points of the compass. 
Then, picking up a little dust, he swallowed it. 
All who heard the sound of the little flute 
kneeled upon the ground; criminals implored for- 
giveness; warriors prayed for courage; and every 
one offered supplications to the god, swallowing 
a pinch of earth. The ceremony was repeated 
daily until the festival took place. 

On the day of the celebration, the Mexicans 
flocked to the court of the temple. A new dress 
had been carried to the idol, and exchanged for 
the old one, which was carefully laid away in the 
repository of such sacred relics. The image was 
newly adorned with gold and feathers, and the 
curtain which covered the doorway of the sane- 



THE MEXICANS IN ARMS, 209 

tuary was raised, that the people might see and 
adore their god. When the multitude had as- 
sembled, some priests, painted black and wearing 
a dress similar to that of the idol, bore it on a 
litter through the crowd. The maidens of the 
temple institutions had made wreaths of dry 
maize leaves, emblems of the sterility which they 
wished to prevent. One of these was placed on 
the brow of the idol. The youths and maidens 
were then formed in procession, wearing these 
dry wreaths. They followed the idol, borne by 
two priests and preceded by priests carrying burn- 
ing incense, into the temple court, which was 
thickly strewn with sweet flowers. The crowd 
kneeled as the procession passed, and the people 
beat themselves with knotted cords. The im- 
age was borne again to its sanctuary, and the 
maidens ascended the temple in a procession, car- 
rying offerings of gold, gems, flowers, and pre- 
pared food to the image. 

After this came the human sacrifice which 
made such occasions very horrible in the eyes of 
the Spaniards. The strange custom of honoring 
a handsome slave for a year and finally sacrificing 
him culminated at this festival. The youth was 
now led up the temple, and sacrificed according 
to custom. A grand dance was then instituted * \ 



210 MONTEZUMA. 

which the young men of the temple schools and 
the nobles of the realm took part. At sunset 
the maidens placed before the god a loaf of bread 
or cake, baked with honey, which, no doubt, wis 
a Mexican delicacy. The youths of the schools 
now raced down the stairs of the temple and 
around the successive platforms. He who could 
reach the court-yard first was rewarded with this 
cake, a garment, and the general applause of the 
spectators. The conclusion of the ceremony was 
the dismission from the temple of all the young 
people who had arrived at the prescribed age 
for marriage. Their younger schoolmates mocked 
ihem, and joked them, throwing handfuls of 
rushes at them, for leaving the service of the 
gods for marriage. The priests always permitted 
such sport on this occasion. 

Such was the ceremony in which Montezuma 
had joined every year of his life, first as a youth 
of the temple school, then as a priest, and, finally, 
as the great and dreaded king of his people. On 
this occasion the nobles seem to have celebrated 
their dance in the palace court -yard for the sake 
of their captive king. It is said that sorne six 
hundred Mexicans were gathered here, though 
we always feel uncertain with regard to the Span^ 
ish conquerors* estimate of numbers. 



THE MEXICANS IN ARMS. 211 

Alvarado had heard rumors of a Mexican 
plot to attack and exterminate his little garrison, 
and it is probable there was such an intention 
among the people who were determined to rescue 
their king. The soldiers complained in after 
years that all the glory of the conquest fell upon 
Cortes, but we see from this transaction how 
little their courage would have effected without 
their wise and politic leader. Without waiting 
to sufficiently examine the flying rumors, Alva 
rado determined to strike the first blow. But 
he did not calculate the consequences and the 
temper of those with whom he had to deal. The 
unarmed dancers were suddenly attacked by the 
Spanish garrison and every one of them slaugh- 
tered. It is said that the rude soldiers even 
took from their bodies the festive ornaments and 
jewelry with which they were adorned. 

Nothing now could restrain the Mexican 
people. Without waiting for a leader, they rushed 
simultaneously against the little garrison, killing 
seven of their number. They were in great peril, 
indeed, when a cannon which had been pre- 
viously primed but which had refused to go off, 
suddenly fired, spreading havoc among the assail- 
ants and saving the Spaniards for a time. The 
garrison were in distress, cut off from water and 



213 MONTEZUMA. 

supplies, A messenger who arrived from Cortes 
with the tidings of his victory was sent back 
with the news that an insurrection had broken 
out in Mexico and imploring immediate assist- 
ance. Meantime, we may imagine the feelings 
of Montezuma at the cruel death of the flower 
of his nobility. He felt that it would not have 
happened, had Cortes been present. He dis- 
patched messengers to the general complaining 
of Alvarado's cruel assault upon his nobles. 

" When we received this news, God knows 
how it afflicted us," says Bernal Diaz. Cortes 
gave Montezuma's messengers, a harsh answer. 
He recalled the detachments which he had 
sent out on minor expeditions and started for 
Mexico by long marches, accompanied by some 
eleven hundred men, having left a garrison at 
Villa Rica. In his great anxiety, he was angry 
with Alvarado, angry with Montezuma, and angry 
with the Mexicans. A hurried march brought 
them to Tlascala. Here, as victors, they were 
handsomely entertained and a force of two thou- 
sand native warriors was added to their army. 
On entering Montezuma's country, the land 
seemed deserted, not a person came to meet the 
army where before it had been attended by 
crowds of curious Indians. This circumstance 



THE MEXICANS IN ARMS. 213 

awakened fresh suspicions in the mind of Cortes. 
He feared that the garrison at Mexico had been 
murdered. At every pass, he expected an am- 
bushed attack. Marching with great caution, 
Cortes soon reached Tezcuco. This city was 
almost entirely deserted of its inhabitants. Cortes 
was about to send an Indian to Mexico to 
ascertain whether his men were yet living when 
a canoe was seen crossing from the city. In 
it was a Spaniard who brought word that the 
garrison was still in existence, and that the con- 
duct of the Mexicans had improved since the 
approach of the army, though the Spaniards 
were still closely confined, and suffered for food. 
The canoe also contained a messenger from 
Montezuma, who begged that the general would 
not be incensed against him as the insurrection 
had taken place without his consent. 

On the following day, the army marched 
along the causeway and through the streets of 
Mexico, once so thronged, but now ominously 
empty. The joy of the beleaguered garrison may 
be imagined. The gentle king met the general 
and congratulated him on his victory, but Cortes, 
exasperated by many circumstances, wo ild not 
speak to him. Montezuma returned sadly to his 
apartment. The general now made inquiries into 



214 MONTEZUMA. 

the cause of the trouble which convinced him 
that Montezuma had had nothing to do with it. 

** How did it come that you fell upon the 
Mexicans while they were dancing and holding a 
festival in honor of their gods ? " sternly inquired 
Cortes of his captain. 

" In order to be beforehand with them," an- 
swered Alvarado. ** I had intelligence of their 
hostile intentions from two of their own nobility 
and a priest.** 

" Is it true that they had asked permission of 
you to hold their festival ? " asked Cortes. 

" Yes ! I gave it In order to take them by sur- 
prise, and punish and terrify them so as to pre- 
vent their making war upon us." 

Cortes was fairly enraged when he heard this 
avowal. He administered a severe reprimand to 
Alvarado. The politic general, for the first time 
so far as we know, had entirely lost his temper. 
Many things exasperated him. In order to in- 
duce Narvaez* troops, who were almost inclined 
to a revolt when they saw how weak their con- 
querors were, to join him he had expatiated on 
his own power and influence in Mexico, and ro- 
manced a little on the abundance of the gold 
there, forgetting to mention the immense num. 
bers of the Aztecs. His cold reception every- 



THE MEXICANS IN ARMS. 21$ 

where and the lack of provisions at his quarters 
were ..o humiliating that he grew very peevish. 
Montezuma, wounded by the unjust suspicions of 
the general, sent his nobles to request Cortes to 
come and see him. 

" Away with him. The dog ! why does he 
neglect to supply us ? " cried Cortes. 

Some of the cavaliers remonstrated with him, 
reminding him of Montezuma's acts of kindness 
and generosity. But this irritated Cortes the 
more. 

*' What compliment am I under to a dog who 
treated with Narvaez, and now neglects to send 
us provisions as you see?" said he. Perhaps he 
would have been more cautious in restraining 
his temper, did he not feel so confident of his 
power with so large a force under his command. 
He bade the nobles tell their king to cause the 
markets to be held as they were before the in- 
surrection. They returned to Montezuma, and, 
having very well understood that Cortes had 
spoken angrily and applied an ugly term to the 
king, they reported it to him. Whether, in their 
indignation, they roused the populace with the 
cry that Montezuma was being abused by the 
Spaniards, or whether an attack was already 
meditated is not known. But, within fifteen or 



2l6 MONTEZUMA. 

twenty minutes, a Spaniard who had been sent 
out with a message came rushing back, covered 
with wounds, and with the news that all Mexico 
was in arms. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

THE MEXICANS BESIEGE CORTES. 

The Mexicans were fully aroused and, once 
aroused, nothing could stand in their way. They 
thirsted for vengeance, and were willing to throw 
down their lives by the hundred, if they might 
but wreak a terrible punishment on the Span- 
iards. Already, they had destroyed the Spanish 
brigantines, upon which Cortes had depended in 
such an extremity. Montezuma's brother, Cuit- 
lahua, had been in the power of Cortes, and the 
general had but just sent him into the city to 
demand the re-opening of the markets, that the 
Spaniards might purchase provisions. But the 
prince did not return. He was hastily elected 
general and king in place of the captive Monte- 
tezuma. It did not take long for Aztec warriors 
to prepare for battle. The most of them wore 
but the sash about the loins. Grasping bows, 
arrows, slings, and darts, they sprang from every 
quarter of Mexico, forming into rude battalions 
and following the feather-work banners which 



2l8 MONTEZUMA. 

were hurriedly displayed. The chiefs and nobles 
who led these forces wore gold breast-plates ane 
feather mantles, while their heads were adorned 
sometimes with a crown of feathers, sometimes 
with a helmet resembling the fierce head of a 
wild animal. The warriors rushed like a great 
wave through the streets, straight toward the pal 
ace of Axayacatl. De Ordas with some two o 
three hundred men had been sent out to recon 
noitre. He was soon met by the oncoming mass 
The very house-tops poured down missiles upon 
their heads. De Ordas was wounded, some of his 
men were killed, and he could but save himselJ 
by an orderly retreat before the irresistible army 
This was only accomplished with considerable 
loss. After and before him the great throng 
surged on toward the Spanish quarters. The ter- 
races, and house-tops of the neighboring buildings, 
each one of which was a fortress in itself, seemed 
suddenly alive with warriors. 

Perhaps Spaniards had never been besieged 
in a stranger fortress than this American palace. 
Its great expanse of flat roof was sufficient in 
extent for a tournament of olden times. In 
the centre, it rose two stories in height, and its 
roof was surrounded with low walls and towerg 
for the purposes of defense. In its ample court 



THE MEXICANS BESIEGE CORTES. 219 

yards lodged the Tlascalan allies. Destitute of 
water but for a muddy, oozing spring discovered 
in the court yard, and almost destitute of food, 
the Spaniards were besieged by a people whose 
determination they had underrated on account 
of their long forbearance. Between them and 
escape lay this exasperated people and the waters 
of the lake, for the bridges to the mainland 
were already destroyed. 

The Spanish cannon were stationed along the 
wall crowning the roof of the palace in which 
embrasures had been cut for the use of the 
artillery. This wall blazed a response to the 
shrill whistles, which were the Mexican warwhoop. 
The Spaniards need take no aim. Every cannon 
ball mowed a path through the crowded ranks 
of the assailants. But the throng pushed onward 
over the dead bodies of their countrymen, filling 
up every gap. The streets, the terraces, and 
the roofs of the houses were densely packed with 
Mexican warriors. Stones from Aztec slings fell 
like rain upon the garrison. Arrows and darts 
soon lay so thickly strewn over the court yards, 
that they fairly impeded motion. Cortes sallied 
forth at several points, and fought the Mexicans 
stoutly but with little effect. He was wounded, 
as were numbers of his men. The throng of 



220 MONTEZUMA. 

warriors pressed on. The foremost ones reached 
the walls of the palaces, where they were shel- 
tered from Spanish firearms. Speedily the build- 
ing was blazing at more than one point. The 
Spaniards tore great breaches in the walls, levelled 
the burning buildings, and threw earth upon the 
smoking ruins. Strong guards had necessarily to 
be placed at these points. Leaping upon the 
bodies of their dead and dying comrades, the 
Mexicans endeavored to scale the walls. No 
sooner, however, did a Mexican's head appear 
over the rampart than a Spanish gun brought 
it down. 

Night-fall ended for a time the strife. The 
Mexicans rested on their arms in the streets. 
But, the Spaniards spent a weary night. Besides 
constantly guarding against surprise, they were 
busily employed in repairing their breaches and 
tending the wounded, the general making his 
dispositions for the following day. 

Day no sooner dawned than the Mexicans re- 
newed the attack more vigorously than ever. 
Though the cannon kept up a continual roar, 
though the Spanish match-locks and cross-bows 
did deadly work, their losses seemed to have no 
effect on the numbers of the Mexicans. Leaving 
as large a number as he could spare for the de- 



THE MEXICANS BESIEGE CORTES. 221 

fense of the garrison, Cortes sallied out in the 
early morning, determined, if he could not con- 
quer, at least to make the enemy fear him. Thi 
Mexicans met him with equal determination 
The Spaniards made charge after charge, tramp- 
ling down the almost naked warriors with their 
horses, mowing them down with their guns, at- 
tacking them with spear and sword. But of no 
avail. Fresh warriors pressed forward in place of 
their slain comrades. If they could kill but one 
Spaniard, where they lost a hundred of their 
own men, they were satisfied. 

Meantime the showers of stones and darts 
from the neighboring buildings were almost un- 
endurable. Cortes several times captured bridges 
which he could not hold, and fired houses in- 
volving the defenders in the ruin. This desperate 
battle lasted until late in the day, when the 
weary Spaniards began a difficult retreat, fighting 
their way back as they had fought it forward. 
It is said that, as Cortes neared his quarters, 
he espied his friend Duero, in a side street, un- 
horsed and desperately defending himself with his 
poniard against a ferocious band of Mexicans. 
Shouting his battle-cry, and driving his spurs 
into his weary horse, he dashed to the rescue 
With a vigorous charge, he scattered the enemy 



222 MONTEZUMA. 

and, assisting his friend to his horse, both cava- 
liers dashed back through the Mexican warriors 
to the Spanish ranks. Arrived finally at their 
quarters; some veteran soldiers swore that neither 
amongst Christians nor Turks had they ever seen 
such desperation as the Mexicans manifested. 

The live-long night and the following day were 
spent by the Spaniards in building three great 
towers, in which it was proposed to shelter cross- 
bowmen and musketeers, provided with bars of 
iron that they might pull down the barricades, 
and loosen the stones of the houses. Meantime, 
the Spaniards were forced to defend themselves 
with the utmost vigilance. The Mexicans did not 
give up their attempts to scale the walls. At 
more than twenty different points their heads 
would frequently appear over the ramparts only 
to be shot down. Meantime they filled the air 
with their taunts. 

* The royal beasts have been kept fasting for 
two days to prepare them for the meal which 
they will speedily have over your carcasses,** they 
cried. 

"You will soon be sacrificed to our gods, 
whom you have despised.*' 

*' We will put the Tlascalans into cages and 
fatten them.*' 



THE MEXICANS BESIEGE CORTES. 223 

*'We will soon get back all that ill-gotten 
treasure." 

These taunts were occasionally interspersed 
with the pitiful cry, " Give us our king, give us 
Montezuma. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

THE DEATH OF MONTEZUMA. 

What must have been the feelings of the 
captive king! His people were aroused once and 
for all. In their midst his brother, the heir to 
the throne, occupied his place, gallantly leading 
them on to the saving of their country at what- 
ever cost. Montezuma could not but know of 
the terrible slaughter of his people, of the despe- 
rate battles, and the still more desperate assaults. 
The familiar war-cry, the whiz of arrows filled his 
ears, amidst the strange roar of cannon and mus- 
ketry. Did he now regret his own weak submis- 
sion, or did he see farther into the future? One 
might almost think from Montezuma's course 
that he was the one man in Mexico who foresaw 
the coming scourge of the white men and the 
impotence of resistance, however energetic, to a 
superior race with better arms. Certainly he 
could have no hope for himself either in the case 
of Mexican victory or Mexican defeat, regarded 
as he was by the stern Spaniards as but a hos- 
tage. 



THE DEATH OF MONTEZUMA. 22$ 

Since his peevish rebuff, the general had had 
little time to spend in remorseful thoughts with 
regard to the wounded feelings of the Mexican 
king. But, in this terrible extremity which had 
followed so quickly on his former successes, he 
remembered an expedient by which he might yet 
tame, he thought, this ferocious animal which 
roared at his gates ready to devour him. A few 
words from the honored king might yet calm the 
tempest. He was now only too willing to leave 
the city, if he were allowed free passage. He 
sent a message to the unhappy Montezuma, de- 
siring him to interpose with his subjects. On 
hearing the message, the king turned away with 
violent expressions of grief. 

" What does he want of me now ? " cried Mon- 
tezuma. " I neither desire to hear him, nor to 
live any longer, since my unhappy fate has 
reduced me to this situation on his account. 
Leave me, and trouble me no more with the 
false words and promises of Malinche." 

Father Olmedo and Christoval de Olid were 
sent to Montezuma. With the most affectionate 
and persuasive language, they tried to induce 
him to comply with their request. 

** I do not believe that my doing so will be of 
any avail/* sadly answered Montezuma. ** The 



226 MONTEZUMA. 

people have already elected a new king, and I 
can tell you you will never leave Mexico alive." 

But the gentle-mannered Montezuma could 
never refuse the Spaniards anything. He was 
finally persuaded to make an attempt in their 
favor, hoping perhaps to relieve the city of the 
Spaniards, without further blood-shed. He put 
on his robe of state, his golden sandals, and his 
mitre-shaped crown. Protected by the shields of 
the Spanish soldiers, he came forward and stood 
upon the parapet. As soon as the caciques saw 
who was approaching, they imposed silence. The 
clamoring of the warriors, the whiz of arrows, 
the roar of firearms ceased. The Spanish shields 
were lowered, and Montezuma stood again in 
sight of his people. He spoke. In affectionate 
terms he asked for a cessation of hostilities, prom- 
ising that the Spaniards would then leave the 
city. Four nobles had approached the wall where 
he stood. 

" We mourn over your misfortunes *' said they 
**and those of your children and family. We 
have raised up Cuitlahua, prince of Iztapalapa, in 
your place. But the war is drawing to a close 
and we have promised the gods never to desist 
until we have destroyed every Spaniard. Every 
day we make offerings for your safety, and when 



THE DEATH OF MONTEZUMA. 227 

we have rescued you out of the hands of these 
men we will venerate you as before, and we hope 
you will pardon us." 

Notwithstanding this speech, the warriors 
were exasperated with Montezuma's weak course. 
Thirsting to revenge the death of the murdered 
dancers at the festival of Tezcatlipoca and their 
mangled warriors who had fallen at the mouth 
of the cannon, determined to make the hated 
foreigners, an offering to their gods, they despised 
the king who could propose to allow them a 
free path to leave their city. Since his first act 
of weak submission, he had become more and 
more unpopular. Hardly had the nobles finished 
speaking when a shower of stones and arrows 
fell about the head of the unhappy king. Three 
stones and an arrow struck him to the ground. 
When the people saw what they had done a 
howl of dismay arose, and they quickly dispersed 
in every direction. 

Montezuma was carried to his apartment. 
Though he was wounded in the head, leg, and 
amij his wounds were not necessarily serious. 
But he refused to live after this disgrace. He 
would have no surgical aid. He tore away the 
bandages, when they were applied. He made no 
answer when the Spaniards endeavored to con- 
sole him. 



228 MONTEZUMA. 

Their attention was speedily called, however, 
from the wounded king to their own situation. 
They dared not rest or turn away their thoughts 
from the assailants day nor night. The following 
morning, they prepared a sally with their movable 
towers, now completed. These machines were 
supported by four pieces of artillery, the cavalry, 
a portion of the infantry, and the Tlascalan 
forces. The towers were pushed up to the 
terraces of the neighboring houses, and by this 
means Cortes attempted to gain these strongholds 
of the assailants. Scaling ladders were put in 
use, and every effort was made; but the desperate 
Mexicans poured missiles and even sharp cut 
stones torn from the walls of the buildings down 
upon the Spaniards* heads. An attempt was 
then made to capture one of Mexico's numerous 
bridges. It was thronged, however, with sturdy 
defenders, while every neighboring house-top, 
served as a vantage ground to the enemy. The 
Spaniards struggled from early morning until 
noon without making any progress. They then 
eturned to their quarters, sorrowfully enough. 
The Mexicans were greatly encouraged by 
their success in resisting the ingenious contriv- 
ances and utmost courage of their enemies. The 
great temple and its inclosure were in the 



THE DEATH OF MONTEZUMA. 229 

immediate neighborhood of the palace of Axay- 
acatl and overlooked it. The Spaniards had at 
first occupied this area with a portion of their 
troops. Since then they had probably swept it 
with their cannon. Emboldened by their success, 
the Mexicans secured this lofty structure. They 
occupied all the smaller buildings. Five hundred 
warriors, plentifully provided with provisions and 
missiles ascended the great temple. Here they 
tore down the symbols of Spanish religion. 
From this vantage-point, they looked down upon 
the roofs, and courts of the Spanish quarters. 
They were thus enabled to do serious injury to 
the garrison. Cortes resolved that the temple 
must be secured at any cost. Two or three 
times the Spaniards made a raid upon it. They 
were saluted by a shower of smaller missiles, 
while great stones came tumbling down the sides. 
They were also harrassed from the neighboring 
structures. Time and again the Spaniards made 
a rush up the stairs, only to come rolling down 
again. 

Cortes resolved on one great effort. lie was 
wounded in his left arm, but, tying a shield 
upon it, he sallied forth at the head of a large 
force. He was met in the inclosure by a 
multitude of Mexican warriors. The Spaniards 



230 MONTEZUMA. 

attempted a charge upon the Mexicans, but the 
pavement was so smooth that the horses' feet 
slipped from under them, and many of them 
fell. They soon, however, cut their way through 
10 the temple, which was a formidable fortress. 
Unlike the temple of Cempoalla, whose summit 
Aras reached by a straight flight of steps, the 
Mexican temple was ascended at one of the 
angles by several stairways, and each successive 
flight was reached only by walking around the 
gallery which led to it. Each one of these 
galleries was well defended by a Mexican force, 
and, if gained, entirely exposed to the missiles 
from above. Cortes pushed up the temple stairs, 
followed by his bravest men. Every inch of 
the way was contested. Some forty Spaniards 
had fallen, and all of them were covered with 
blood when they reached the summit only to 
be more desperately resisted. Mexican warriors 
swarmed before and behind them. Several times 
they were driven down six and even ten steps. 
Sometimes a soldier went rolling down into the 
court yard below. Three hours the conflict raged 
upon this high battle ground. The Spaniards 
frequently drove Mexican warriors off the edge 
of the platform, and they rolled headlong down 
the sides to be despatched by the Spaniards and 



THE DEATH OF MONTEZUMA. 23 1 

Tlascalans below. Still the battle raged. It 
was not closed until every Mexican upon the 
temple summit was dead. The sanctuaries of 
Huitzilopotchli and Tezcatlipoca were speedily in 
a blaze. The great war-god was dragged forth 
and hurled from his high throne never to be 
replaced. The Spanish army then retreated to 
its quarters, having dealt the Mexicans a severe 
blow. Cortes followed it up in the night by a 
sally into the slumbering city and the burning 
of a number of houses. The houses were so 
much separated by water and so substantially 
built that it was an arduous task to set them 
afire, and the blaze did not readily communicate 
with neighboring buildings. 

Having thus terrified the Mexicans, as he 
thought, Cortes endeavored to treat with them. 
He felt quite certain that he could now bring 
them to terms. He told them that, unless they 
immediately afforded him a cessation of hostili- 
ties, he would persevere in his work of destruc- 
tion and death, until nothing was left of Mexico 
and its inhabitants. 

** We know well," answered the Mexicans, 
" that many of us will lose our lives, but we 
are determined to make an end of you, though 
we all die in the attempt. You can see how the 



232 MONTEZUMA. 

streets are filled with people, and, if we lose hun 
dreds of men to your one, we will still conquer, 
The bridges are destroyed. You can not escape, 
and we know well that you have little food and 
less water. Famine will soon finish you if we do 
not." 

This was only too true. No gleam of hope 
remained for the Spaniards. Active mutiny 
arose in the camp. The soldiers of Narvaez, es- 
pecially, cursed Cortes, and cursed Velasquez, 
and heartily wished themselves well back in their 
comfortable Cuban homes, which they probably 
vowed they would never again leave in the mad 
search for gold. 

It was now the third day since Montezuma 
had been wounded at the hands of his people. 
He had torn the bandages from his bruises, he 
had refused food, and had turned away his head 
from those who wished to speak to him. The 
unhappy king was resolved to die. Father 01- 
medo waited on him, and did his best endeavor 
to persuade him to renounce his gods, and em- 
brace the Christian religion. But it was of no 
avail. In his last hours Montezuma clung to the 
religion of his fathers. He had too little reason 
to think well of the white man's faith. 

The Spanish cavaliers had grown attachev5 ^ 



THE DEATH OF MONTEZUMA. 233 

Montezuma. They visited his dying bed when 
they could be spared from the continuous battle 
without. Cortes promised him to care for cer- 
tain of his children. This promise he kept. 
Some of Montezuma's children who survived the 
great upheaval of the conquest became the 
founders of noble houses. Montezuma died. 
The Spanish cavaliers and soldiers wept openly, 
" as though he had been their father," said Ber- 
nal Diaz " nor is it to be wondered at, consider- 
ing how good he was." 

Perhaps this general sorrow among his cap- 
tors, who were none too tender-hearted, speaks 
more in favor of Montezuma's character than 
anything else. Though a powerful king, he was 
not a great man. He seems to have alienated 
his people, outside of his immediate capital, by 
harsh and despotic measures. He was given to 
intrigue, and is said to have filched away some 
of the dominions of his nephew, the king of Tez- 
cuco, in the troubles at the time of his acces- 
sion to the throne. He lacked the personal 
courage to lay down his life for his country, 
when he was met face to face by the stern Span- 
iards, unmasked of their soft protestations of 
friendship, and demanding him as a hostage. But 
Montezuma possessed charming manners. He 



234 MONTEZUMA. 

was unbounded in his generosity, attached to 
those who did him a kindness, and gentle and 
friendly towards all with whom he came in con- 
tact. Certainly one would not expect to find 
such qualities and such failings in the king of 
one of the barbarian races inhabiting America, 
before the arrival of the white man, and whom 
we indiscriminately style Indians. 

Cortes sent Montezuma's body out to Cuit- 
lahua, borne by some Mexican nobles, and priests 
who remained with him. By these he sent word 
to the Mexicans that their king had died at their 
own hands. Loud lamentations arose when the 
people saw the body of Montezuma. Fierce with 
hatred, the Mexicans would not believe but that 
the Spaniards had killed him. The king's body, 
as one account avers, was probably burned in a 
public square, according to custom, amid the 
mourning of the multitude. The dire battle 
a^ain closed around the Spaniards. But though 
Montezuma is dead, his story, the story of his 
throne and of his people is not ended. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

THE SAD NIGHT. 

The numbers of the Spaniards diminished 
daily, while the Mexican warriors seemed to in- 
crease. The besieged were weakened by wounds 
and by want, but the Mexicans daily grew in 
fury. Montezuma was dead ; overtures for peace 
were rejected ; and the bridges for retreat de- 
stroyed. The Spanish troops were almost in mu- 
tiny. Cortes stood on the brink of the ruin of 
all his ambitious schemes. But he quietly re- 
solved on the best course to take, where any 
course was desperate. Cool-headed in time of 
unprecedented success, he was equally cool in 
time of overwhelming calamity. He resolved to 
clear the way, if possible, down the street which 
led over a causeway to the city of Tacuba. 

The Spaniards spent the night in repairin|, 
their movable towers. At break of day Cortes 
sallied forth at the head of his main force. The 
Spaniards soon approached the site of the bridge 
where they had been formerly defeated. But 



236 MONTEZUMA. 

now they fought for the last chance of life. This 
street and the connecting causeway had led over 
eight bridges, every vestige of which was now 
swept away. It was lined with great buildings, 
surmounting terraces or mounds, each one of 
which was a fortress of offensive warfare. Here 
and there the street was blockaded with a great 
breastwork of sun-baked brick. The battle was 
desperate. The Spaniards fought for life, the 
Mexicans fought with the certainty that, if they 
did not destroy these hated strangers, their land 
would be taken from them. Cortes burned the 
houses as he went. He stormed the barricades, 
and threw their debris, with stone and timber 
from the blazing houses into the canals, thus 
making a solid bridge to pass over to the next 
resting place. At every bridge, a detachment 
was left to guard the crossing. The Spaniards 
pressed onward amidst a fierce resistance. By 
nightfall, they had fought a deadly battle over 
four crossings, and gained them. They had left 
some twenty Spaniards dead upon the field, 
and the wounds of the living were innumerable. 
They retired to their palace for the night, leaving 
a strong guard at each bridge. 

The sally was resumed on the following morn- 
ing. The Mexicans had labored hard during the 



THE SAD NIGHT. 237 

n%.\t to strengthen their entrenchments, and 
widon the breaches in the streets and causeways. 
But the Spaniards pressed resolutely forward. Ar- 
rived at last at the open causeway, they drove the 
natives before them. Some of the cavaliers gal- 
loped almost to the mainland, " at the heels of 
the fugitives." Meantime, the main army was lab- 
oring to fill up the bridges, when Cortes received 
a message to the effect that the Mexicans were 
suing for peace, and desired his presence immed- 
iately. The general hastily returned to the gar- 
rison, rejoiced at this gleam of hope. The Mexi- 
can messengers made a humble speech, and de- 
sired that a priest whom Cortes held in captiv- 
ity, and who was a sort of chief priest in their 
religious rites, should be delivered over. The 
priest was brought forward, and assisted at con- 
cluding a truce between the two armies. The 
wearied general now returned to his quarters, 
where he was partaking of hasty refreshments, 
when messengers rushed in with the news that 
the Mexicans had made a ferocious attack on the 
conquered bridges, and had already killed certain 
of the Spaniards who guarded them. Cortes* 
hopes were dashed to the ground. "God only 
knows," said he, in his letter to the emperor, 
"with what feelings I received this intelligence. 



238 MONTEZUMA. 

since I had thought that we had nothing more 
to trouble us, after having gained possession of 
the avenue leading out of the city." 

Cortes sprang upon his horse, and, followed 
by a few horsemen galloped down the street 
to the scene of battle. He had counted on the 
infantry following him, but they exhausted with 
their wounds and panic-stricken at the new 
disaster, failed to do so. As Cortes galloped 
onward, regaining the captured bridges with a 
brisk charge, the multitude of Mexicans closed in 
upon the bridges behind him, tearing away the 
debris of which they were composed and again 
making them a gap and pitfall between the 
Spaniards and their garrison. Having routed 
the enemy who were attacking his men and 
having collected his forces into a little band, 
Cortes sought to return, when he was met by 
the appalling spectacle of his bridges partly 
destroyed and a great army between him and 
his quarters. The Spaniards fought their way 
forward with intense desperation. The report 
ran through the city that Cortes was dead. It 
was a joyful sound of deliverance to the Mexi- 
cans ; it fell like a doom upon the Spanish gar- 
rison. But Cortes was alive, in the thick of the 
fight, shouting the name of his patron saint 



THE SAD NIGHT. 239 

He and his horse, indeed, were well protected 
by armor, and the enemy's spears and arrows 
could do them no more harm, he says, than to 
cause their bodies a Httle pain. 

The Spaniards fought their way back, over 
bridge after bridge partly demolished by the 
Mexicans. At the last bridge, Cortes rode up 
to find his cavalry fallen into the gap, one horse 
riderless and the remainder baffled in their 
attempts to ascend the opposite side by multi- 
tudes of Mexican warriors who guarded the gap. 
Making a single handed charge among those of 
the enemy who were available, Cortes sprang with 
his good horse over a six foot opening, amid the 
rattling hail of Indian arms, and having reached 
the other side, led his men forward to the bat- 
tered and half-ruined palace of Axayacatl. The 
Mexicans had come off victorious. Several of the 
bridges it is true were still in the hands of Cortes 
bat they had regained and destroyed the rest. 

The Spaniards could hope for no better suc- 
cess, and, indeed, their situation was likely to 
become worse by any delay. Cortes dreaded 
lest the Mexicans would in their determination 
destroy the very causeway itself. A sort of 
necromancer or astrologer in the army named 
Botello, had predicted that, if the Spaniards did 



240 MONTEZUMA. 

not quit Mexico on that very night, no Spaniard 
would escape alive. This wizard had also pre- 
dicted that Cortes would undergo great changes 
of fortune, which was hardly seeing through a 
stone wall. 

The men in their dire despair were greatly 
influenced by the predictions of the necromancer. 
Very likely Cortes himself, living as he did in an 
age of superstition, was swayed by them. But 
his judgment also told him, that it would not do 
to remain longer in Mexico. 

The jaded Spanish soldiers returned to their 
quarters, only to make hasty preparations for a 
night retreat. It was not the custom of the 
Mexicans to fight at night, and Cortes deemed 
this the best time to attempt his escape. A por- 
table bridge was constructed of strong timbers, 
by which he hoped to effect a crossing for his 
irmy, over the gaps in the causeway. 

And now the treasure had to be thought of. 
The soldiers wore their possessions in gold orna- 
ments, about their persons but the royal fifth 
and that belonging to Cortes and to the richer 
officers, had been cast into bars and stored in 
Cortes' own room in the palace. It was now 
all brought out, and heaped into dazzling piles on 
the floor of the grand saloon. The soldiers of 



THE SAD NIGHT. 24I 

Narvaez' army regarded for the fiist time, with 
eager eyes, the riches of which they had heard 
so much. Cortes apportioned a certain number 
of Tlascalans and some partially disabled horses 
to carry the treasure. They were accordingly 
laden with gold and given especially in charge 
of the treasurer and a detachment of soldiers. 
Still there remained great heaps of riches, which 
must be left behind. Cortes turned to his sold- 
iers. " Let every man," he said, ** take what he 
will. Better so, than that it should be left for 
these Mexican dogs.** 

Human avarice could not withstand the op- 
portunity. Many of the men sprang forward, 
and eagerly loaded themselves down with treas- 
ure. The soldiers of Narvaez, especially, who 
had seen so little riches since their advent into 
Mexico, eagerly fumbled over the glittering piles 
in this moment of anxiety and peril. Bernal 
Diaz says, that he, for his part, thought more of 
saving his life than anything else, and did not 
choose to hamper himself with uncertain riches; 
but, when an opportunity presented itself, he 
seized four of those green jewels so much es- 
teemed among the Mexicans. They afterwards 
served a good purpose in procuring him food 
among the natives in time of famine. 



242 MONTEZUMA, 

Cortes next made a disposition of his forces. 
One detachment was assigned the care of the 
portable bridge, which they were pledged to 
stand by and guard, until all had passed over, 
when they were to carry it forward to the next 
gap. The brave young Gonzalo de Sandoval led 
the vanguard, composed of a hundred picked 
soldiers. The treasure and artillery were in the 
centre of the column. The rear guard was under 
the command of Alvarado and Velasquez de 
Leon. Cortes commanded in person a reserve 
force. The Tlascalans were distributed among 
these bodies of Spaniards. 

At midnight, about the first of July 1520, the 
Spaniards moved for the last time from the gates 
of the palace of Axayacatl, leaving behind them 
much treasure and some of the heaviest artillery. 
The great square was deserted ; the dark streets 
echoed alarmingly the rumble of artillery and the 
clank of horses' hoofs. A thick mist filled the 
air ; it was beginning to rain ; and was very dark. 
The army moved on, out the avenue, the de- 
serted scene of yesterday's battle. The Spaniards 
arrived in safety at the first broken bridge. But 
the Mexicans had not been entirely unguarded 
Native sentinels had been stationed at the broken 
bridges. At sight of the Spaniards, the sentinels 



THE SAD NIGHT. 243 

fled, spreading the alarm that the Spaniards were 
escaping. Instantly the sound of blowing upon 
shells was heard, and the great serpent-skin drum 
on the summit of the temple was struck, making 
a loud wailing noise, a sound of doom for the 
Spaniards. In a moments' time the city was 
astir. 

Meantime, the vanguard had passed over the 
bridge. Cortes followed, escorting the artillery and 
baggage which began slowly to trundle across. 
But now came the shrill war whistle of the Mexi- 
cans, accompanied by showers of arrows. The 
hurried splash of many paddles could be heard 
from the dark surface of the lake. A moment 
more, and the Mexicans were upon them. They 
gathered at each of the three broken bridges, 
They clambered up the causeway. They attacked 
the army in the rear. But the Spaniards pushed 
forward, too intent on escape to fight any more 
than to hew their way forward, and thrust their 
gathering assailants off into the water at the 
point of the sword. The van-guard had already 
reached the next break in the causeway. The 
Mexicans assailed them hotly from the other 
side. But they were forced to wait for the port- 
able bridge. Impatient orders for it were sent to 
the rear. The army was still passing over, how- 



244 MONTEZUMA. 

ever, amid the ferocious attacks of the enemy. 
Cortes* forces, including the Tlascalans, amounted 
to some thousands of men, and it took some time 
for these all to cross. 

The vanguard having finally crossed, the 
Spaniards in charge of the bridge attempted to 
bring it forward. They tugged and lifted, but 
of no avail. The bridge had been wedged firmly 
in its place by the weight of artillery and men. 
Desperately they worked amid the galling at- 
tacks of Mexican warriors. When they at last 
gave up the bridge many of them had been 
killed, and all of them wounded. The fatal tid- 
ings spread through the army. A panic seized 
it. Every man thought only of saving his life. 
The foremost cavaliers plunged into the water, 
which was not deep, and swam or forded across. 
Some reached the causeway again in safety, 
others were driven backward, in attempting the 
ascent, to be dispatched by Mexican swords. 
The infantry followed the cavalry. They plunged 
into the water. Some few swam or waded across, 
but the canoes of the Mexican warriors thronged 
the spot. They fell upon the Spaniards without 
mercy. Some they killed, others, wounded or 
dying, were dragged off for sacrifice. Well was it 
for him who had not weighted himself with 



THE SAD NIGHT. 245 

Montezuma's fatal gold. The panic-stricken col- 
umns in the rear pressed forward, forcing men, 
horses, baggage, and artillery into the water. The 
gap was choked up with dead, dying, and those 
struggling to escape from the fearful mel^e. 

The whole causeway was a scene of carnage. 
The air was filled with cries for assistance which 
were not answered, the groans of the dying call- 
ing upon the virgin and St. lago, and the re- 
ceding wail of those carried off to be reserved 
for sacrifice. Finally the baggage, treasure, artill- 
ery, and the dead and dying had choked up the 
gap to the very top. Those in the rear who had 
escaped from the dire battle crossed over this 
horrible bridge. They formed themselves into 
little bodies of men, and repelling the enemy 
as best they might, pushed onward. Their 
numbers were greatly diminished as they reached 
in straggling panic-stricken parties the third and 
last opening. Here much the same scene was 
enacted. An unequal struggle in the water, the 
more fortunate reaching the opposite bank. The 
loss was not so great as at the previous open- 
ing, for they were already relieved of their most 
cumbersome part. 

Cortes, with some of his officers and strag- 
gling bands of soldiery, had reached the shore in 



246 MONTEZUMA. 

safety. The cavalry could have been of no avail 
on the crowded causeway, and the cavaliers had 
made their escape as best they might. Cortes, 
with a few horsemen, returned to the struggling 
scene of battle, however. He found Alvarado 
unhorsed, and, with a poor remnant of the rear 
guard, battling for escape on the brink of the 
last opening from the enemy, who were pushing 
him hard from behind, constantly re-inforced as 
they were from the city. Cortes swam the gap, 
and assisted his men all he could, by a charge 
upon the enemy. One of his companion horse- 
men was struck dead at his side. Cortes and 
the cavaliers plunged again into the lake followed 
by the infantry. The story is told that Alvarado 
looked at the opening before him, and then 
planting his spear on the mass of ruin, floating 
there, sprang across the space. To this day the 
place is called Alvarado's leap; but the story 
is not credited by the best authorities, and 
indeed a legal process against Alvarado has been 
foui-d, in which he was accused of deserting his 
•nei in the hour of danger. 

A short time after this, Cortes sat upon the 
steps of a temple, regarding the wounded, drip- 
ping, straggling remnants of his army, as they 
passed before him. The Mexicans did not follow 



THE SAD NIGHT. 247 

up their victory. They were busy over the rich 
spoil on the fatal battle-ground. They had had 
their revenge for the murder of the flower of 
their nobility, for the confiscation of their reve- 
nues, for the insults done to Montezuma. As 
nearly as we can judge from the widely differing 
accounts, at least some four hundred and fifty 
Spaniards were lost on this " sad night," as it 
was afterwards called. Most of the Tlascalans 
had perished, and forty-six of the cavalry were 
killed. Nearly all the riches, the handsome little 
train of artillery of which Cortes had been so 
proud, and all the papers, including the general's 
diary, which he had kept since leaving Cuba, 
were gone forever. The survivors had even 
thrown away their weightier arms, in the strug- 
gle for life; nothing but their swords remained. 
Cortes' friend, Velasquez de Leon, had fallen, and 
the prophet, Botello, was among the missing. As 
the general regarded the pitiful sight before him, 
and missed many a familiar face, he is said to 
have covered his eyes with his hands, and wept. 
The Indian women possessed by the Spaniards 
several children of Montezuma, some Aztec no- 
bles, and the unfortunate Cacama, all held as pris- 
oners, had perished in the retreat. It was with 
joy that Cortes saw Donna Marina, AguiJar, and 



248 MONTEZUMA. 

the ship-builder, Martin Lopez, still living. For 
Cortes was not to be thrown down by misfor- 
tunes. Even in this hour of gloom, he hoped to 
etrieve his fortunes. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

THE RETREAT. 

The fugitive Spaniards had moved on to the 
city of Tacuba. Here they stood, huddled to- 
gether in the public square, uncertain where to 
go. Cortes soon rode up, and led his men for- 
ward, knowing it was dangerous to stay in this 
unfriendly place. Having come upon an Aztec 
temple, the Spaniards ascended it, and, driving 
away the native occupants, took up their abode 
here. They found wood for the temple use, and 
they speedily made roaring fires, before which 
they dried their saturated clothes, and dressed 
their wounds as best they could. The exhausted 
soldiers soon threw themselves down, and slept. 
They were in a deplorable condition, destitute 
of food and clothing, forced to retreat through a 
hostile country to Tlascala, where they would 
arrive with the sad news of the loss of nearly a 
thousand of her warriors, and where they might 
meet anything but a friendly reception, in view 
of these disasters. 



250 MONTEZUMA. 

Fortunately for the Spaniards, the Mexicans 
employed this first day after their victory in 
cleansing their streets of dead and celebrating 
with rejoicings the sacrifice of their captives. 
Meantime, the Spaniards, having spent the day in 
Bleeping and resting, resumed their march at mid- 
night. The wounded and disabled formed the 
centre. Some hobbled upon crutches, some were 
assisted on by their comrades, and the most dis- 
abled were placed on some lame horses. This 
halting body was surrounded by the cavalry, and 
those of the infantry who were able to bear 
arms. The whole was guided by the remnant 
of Tlascalans. They took a circuitous route to 
the north, out of the valley, thus avoiding the 
capital. 

Famished, their wounds suffering from lack of 
care, and the enemy constantly hanging upon 
their flanks and attacking them from any point of 
vantage, the little army moved slowly forward 
Some perished by the way. Stragglers in search 
of food were seized by the enemy, and Cortes 
was obliged to be very strict, to prevent any, such 
disorder. The soldiers sucked stalks of corn for 
nourishment, and subsisted principally on the 
wild cherry. Once a horse was killed by the 
enemy, and they feasted upon it, even to the very 



THE RETREAT. 25 1 

hide. Weak and weary, the gold which some of 
them had succeeded in bringing through all the 
horrors of the flight from Mexico became a hate- 
ful burden, and was dropped here and there on 
the road. One man, it is said, flung away three 
thousand castellanos by the advice of Cortes. 

" The devil take your gold," cried he, " if it is 
to cost you your life." 

The bands of Indians who approached the 
army from time to time, flinging down stones, 
arrows, and taunts, from any vantage point upon 
the Spaniards, had frequently cried, ''Only wait 
till you see what is in store for you." Cuitlahua 
had not indeed pursued the fugitives, but he did 
not intend to let them escape him. He had 
levied a great army from the surrounding country, 
which was to meet the Spaniards in open field, 
and give them battle. 

Meantime, a week had passed since the '' sad 
night." The Spaniards were nearing the borders 
of Tlascala, their numbers grown thinner by the 
losses on the way. Cortes cheered them up with 
the hope of a friendly reception, although in his 
heart, he was none too sure of it. What were 
their feelings, then, as they ascended the moun- 
tain pass of Ot"mba, to hear from their scouts 
that there was a hostile army ahead. As they 



252 MONTEZUMA. 

reached the crest of the mountain barrier, they 
saw for themselves an immense array of Aztec 
warriors, looking like snow in their white cot- 
ton mail, and covering the valley of Otumba. 
All the chieftains of the neighboring provinces 
had assembled here with their warriors, fresh and 
eager to put an end to the enemies of their gods, 
and their country. 

The little weary, famished, band of fugitives, 
destitute of their most potent arms and artillery 
might now indeed be daunted. But desperation 
came to their aid. Return they could not ; Tlas- 
cala was their only refuge. Their allies, on their 
part saw the mountains of their home before 
them. They would cut their way through to 
Tlascala or die in the attempt. 

A halt was ordered. Cortes made a hasty 
disposition of his forces, presenting a broad front 
to the enemy, and dividing his cavalry, reduced 
to twenty in number, into bands of five each. 
They and the good Spanish swords were his only 
superiority over the enemy except that of drill. 
He ordered the horsemen to charge at half speed, 
with their lances pointed at the face of the 
enemy, and not stopping to make thrusts. The 
infantry were to thrust with their swords, passing 
them clear through the bodies of the enemy that 



THE RETREAT. 253 

they might at least sell their lives dearly. But 
the clouds of Indians were already surrounding 
them. The Spaniards hastily recommended them- 
selves to heaven, and invoked their patron saint. 
They then moved down into the valley calling 
on St. lago. The answering war-cry of the na- 
tives made the mountains ring. The two armies 
met. The Spaniards were fairly engulfed in the 
mass of the enemy. And now came a desperate 
struggle. Aztec and Spaniard closed foot to foot. 

The little parties of cavalry galloped at will 
over the smooth plain which was to their ad- 
vantage. They bore down the Aztecs with 
couched lances. But the Aztec ranks surged on 
around the determined little band. The Span- 
iards were almost overcome with exhaustion. 
Their horses were all wounded, and almost every 
man had felt the effects of native lances, clubs, 
or swords. And still the Aztecs pushed forward 
fresh warriors to meet them. But, if the Span- 
iards wavered for a moment, it was only to 
redouble their efforts, with sword and lance. 

"Strike at the chiefs," cried Cortes; for they 
were plainly distinguishable, being richly decked 
with plumes, feather armor, and ornaments and 
devices of gold. The soldiers now aimed es- 
pecially at them; for they well knew that all 



254 MONTEZUMA. 

the authority in such a disorderly host of warriors 
lay in the leaders. 

*• Now, gentlemen, is the day of victory," cried 
the gallant young Sandoval. *' Put your trust in 
God. We shall survive, for he preserves us for 
some good purpose." And he dashed away 
through the host, accompanied by Cortes, De 
Olid, and Alvarado. But, after all, what could 
their courage avail them? For, if the Spaniards 
were determined to reach Tlascala, the Aztecs 
were equally determined that not one of them 
should leave their land alive. But now Cortes 
has descried what he believes to be the com- 
mander-in-chief of the surging host. There is 
a particularly distinguished standard, a peculiarly 
rich plume of feathers. He was surrounded by 
other chiefs, also richly ornamented. 

*' Now, gentlemen, there is your mark," he 
cried, turning to the cavaliers at his side. 

They charged directly for the Aztec chieftain, 
through the dense ranks of the enemy, over- 
turning them, and trampling them down in their 
impetuous charge. The Spanish cavaliers swept 
down upon the chiefs party. Cortes dealt him 
a blow, striking down his standard, which he 
bore himself, according to custom. A cavalier 
named Salamanca, who rode a " pied mare," 



THE RETREAT. 255 

\ irsued the chief, killed him, seized his rich 
feather head-dress, and turning to Cortes pre- 
sented it to him, saying: 

" You struck down the standard, and to you 
is due the trophy of victory." 

The slain chief was indeed an important 
personage in the army. The news of his death 
spread. The Aztecs relaxed their efforts. The 
Spaniards redoubled theirs. The natives fled, 
their great mass making their confusion the more 
disastrous. The Spaniards and Tlascalans pur- 
sued, forgetting their wounds and their exhaus- 
tion. They took ample revenge for their late 
losses. They finally left the battle field strewn 
with the dead, conspicuous among whom, was 
the gay costume of many a native chief. The 
victors camped for the night in a neighboring 
temple, a kind of structure which frequently 
afforded them a temporary succor, built as they 
invariably were on a pyramidal mound. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

MAKING A FRESH START. 

The Spaniards arose on the following morn- 
ing in more cheerful spirits than they had felt 
since the night of their disaster. They stayed 
their stomachs with certain gourds which they 
found by the way. The Aztec warriors hovered 
around them, to the very borders of Tlascala. 
The little army saluted the mountains of this 
state with joy. Their spirits sank a little, how- 
ever, when they thought with doubt of the re- 
ception they would meet with here. Cortes 
charged his men, since their number was so small, 
to be cautious not to give offence to these peo- 
ple. He entered Tlascala, he says, with as much 
uneasiness as he had felt in meeting the Aztecs 
in battle. 

The Spaniards halted at the first Tlascalan 
town. Here they rested from their fatigues, 
and procured provisions, not without paying for 
them in gold, however. But they were soon re- 
lieved of their apprehensions, for the old Tlas- 



MAKING A FRESH START. 257 

calan chief, Maxixca and the young warrior Xi- 
cotencatl, met them at this place. The chief 
mourned over Tlascala's losses, especially the 
death of his daughter, who had been given to 
Velasquez de Leon, and had perished in the 
night retreat. He praised the prowess of the 
Spaniards, however, and commented on the 
treachery of the Mexicans with a kindly, '* I told 
you so." The Spaniards were again invited to 
the capital. Here the way-worn adventurers 
nursed their wounds, and recruited their ex- 
hausted bodies. Cortes had several wounds, 
which threw him into a high fever, from which, 
however, his good constitution brought him out 
in safety. 

The Spaniards were now attacked by fresh 
anxieties. It seems that, on his journey to meet 
Narvaez, Cortes had left a goodly amount of 
gold at Tlascala, together with some invalids. 
He made haste to inquire for these, and learned 
that a party of five horse and forty-five infantry 
had arrived there from Villa Rica with provisions, 
on their way to Mexico. They had taken with 
them the invalids and the chests of gold. The 
whole party had been robbed and cut off by 
the Aztecs, on their road to Mexico. Cortes 
also received various accounts of Spania;^ds who 



258 MONTEZUMA. 

had undertaken the journey, supposing every 
thing to be as peaceable as heretofore, and had 
met their death on the way. This increase of 
their losses was very depressing to the Spaniards, 
especially as they did not know but the natives 
might have risen and destroyed the colony at 
Villa Rica, their last stay. Cortes immediately 
despatched messengers with Indian guides, having 
directions to avoid the beaten road, to the garri- 
son. They ascertained the safety of the Span- 
iards at this place, though the news they brought 
to the little garrison filled it with sorrow. 

Meantime, Cuitlahua was doing all in his 
power to save his kingdom from the invaders. 
As is frequently the case with governments 
where the country is ruled by tyranny, the re- 
moter provinces took the occasion of this dis- 
traction of the king's forces, to throw off his 
yoke. Cuitlahua, never-the-less, made every effort 
to strengthen his frontiers. Determined on the 
expulsion of the Spaniards, he resolved to try to 
affect an alliance with the Tlascalans. He sent 
an embassy to the little state, representing that 
the white men were their common enemies and 
the enemies of their common gods, and proposing 
an alliance to destroy them, in this, the hour of 
their weakness. The Tlascalan chiefs held a 



MAKING A FRESH START. 259 

council. The young Xicotencatl, who had never 
overcome his enmity for the Spaniards, was hotly 
in favor of accepting the proposition of the Mexi- 
cans. But the old Maxixca stoutly withstood the 
tide in favor of treachery to the white men. The 
chieftains had a fierce quarrel, and the older one 
is said to have kicked the younger one down the 
steps of the council hall. Cuitlahua's proposition 
was rejected. The Spaniards got some wind of 
the affair, which added to their anxieties; for 
Xicotencatl still headed a party in Tlascala, op- 
posed to the white men. 

After three weeks of rest in Tlascala, Cortes 
began to meditate a fresh campaign against the 
Mexican empire. He no sooner laid his plans be- 
fore his troops, than murmurs of opposition arose. 
The remnant of Narvaez* soldiers, longing for their 
plantations and mines in Cuba, had thought that 
their disasters had put an end to any farther 
ambitious schemes on the part of their com- 
mander. The discontents found a leader in 
Cortes' friend Duero, who loudly cursed the day 
he had embarked on such a business and the 
gold that had been lost in the Mexican ditches. 
Finding that Cortes took no notice of their noisy 
complaints, they drew up a petition headed by 
the name of Duero. They begged the general to 



26o MONTEZUMA. 

proceed immediately to Vera Cruz where, at least, 
his forces would be united and with ships at their 
disposal, before the natives discovered their weak 
ness, and attacked them separately. Cortes read 
the paper. But he was " determined " as he says, 
" by no means to go down to the seaboard ports, 
preferring to encounter every toil and danger that 
could possibly lie in our way." He was con- 
vinced that to display the least faint-heartedness, 
especially before the Tlascalans, would be ruin- 
ous. He told his men so, declared that " fortune 
favors the brave," and that, as they were Chris- 
tians in the service of their king, heaven would 
not suffer them to utterly lose, " so noble a land." 
The malcontents accepted their general's answer 
with very ill grace; but were obliged to content 
themselves, for the present, with grumbling at 
those of Cortes' veteran men who were staunch 
in their allegiance to him. '' You have nothing 
to lose but your lives," said the Cuban land- 
owners. 

< 

Cortes resolved to strike his first blow at the 
Mexican province of Tepeaca, bordering on those 
of Tlascala and Cholula. It was here that some 
of the Spaniards had been waylaid and murdered. 
On Cortes' first passage through their country 
these natives had readily offered their allegiance 



MAKING A FRESH START. 261 

bit when the tide had turned against him they 
had taken the Mexican side, and Cuitlahua had 
placed garrisons within their territory. To secure 
Tepeaca was especially important, aside from mo- 
tives of revenge; for this province lay on the 
direct route from Villa Rica to Mexico, -vvhich it 
was necessary for Cortes to command in order to 
carry out his further plans. 

The Spaniards, accordingly, marched from 
Tlascala, resolved to retrieve their old reputation 
for success. They were accompanied, a^ usual, by 
numbers of their allies who were very eager to 
fight the Aztecs at any point. The Tepeacans 
met them at their borders with a large force, and 
gave battle. The battle ground was open corn 
fields. The Spaniards had now neither artillery 
nor firearms, but they had still a small band of 
the dreaded horsemen. They charged in every 
direction over the level fields, which favored 
their movements. The natives found themselves 
helpless against such warfare, and were speedily 
routed. 

The city of Tepeaca was thus by a bold move 
reduced to submission. There Cortes took up his 
quarters. He made the rebellion **of the people," 
s-s he styled it, an excuse to make slaves of num- 
bers of captives. Warriors they did not want; 



262 MONTEZUMA. 

but women and boys were cruelly branded with 
a hot iron, according to the custom of the time, 
and divided among the conquerors. One fifth 
was reserved for the emperor of Spain, another 
fifth for Cortes, and the remainder were distrib- 
uted much in the same way as Montezuma's 
gold. Again it was complained that Cortes used 
corrupt measures to secure the better part of this 
spoil to himself and his favorites, while the dis- 
abled and ugly were left for the soldiers. Cortes 
established a post at Tepeaca which he named 
Segura de la Frontera, " security of the Fron- 
tier." 

Cuitlahua had taken pains to establish a large 
army at a neighboring mountain pass. They 
were encamped near the strongly-fortified city 
of Huacachula, where a Mexican garrison had 
also been placed. The people of this city, willing 
to conciliate the conquerors and aggravated by 
the arrogance of the Mexican warriors quartered 
upon them, sent Cortes a message, excusing their 
attitude of apparent hostility, and offering to as- 
sist in ousting the garrison within their city, if 
Cortes would send a force for that purpose. He, 
of course, gladly accepted the proposition, and 
detached Christoval de Olid, with two hundred 
men and a large force of Tlascalans, to reduce 



MAKING A FRESH START. 263 

the city. They were joined on their march, by a 
great number of Indians, both from this province 
and from that of Cholula, who displayed such 
alacrity to join the attack on the Mexicans, that 
the Spaniards became suspicious of treachery. 
Olid suddenly turned about, and marched for 
Cholula. From here, he sent some of the sus- 
pected Indian leaders, captive to Cortes. The 
general, after making a careful examination, came 
to the conclusion, that there was nothing in the 
rumor, and that, at any rate, it would not do to 
exhibit any fear of the natives, in abandoning the 
enterprise. Cortes accordingly marched to Cho- 
lula, where he joined Olid. He now made an 
arrangement for the co-operation of the inhabi- 
tants of Huacachula. 

Cortes and his men were on the march before 
daybreak, the following morning. Meantime, the 
Mexican garrison had sent out scouts, according 
to custom, and, receiving no warning, was en- 
tirely unsuspicious of any danger. The inhabi- 
tants, in fact, had captured the scouts to prevent 
any alarm. About ten o'clock, the Huacachu 
lans, receiving intelligence that the Spanish army 
was approaching, pounced upon the Mexicans 
within their city. They had already made some 
forty prisoners when Cortes* men hurried to the 



264 MONTEZUMA. 

scene. The noise of combat filled the streets of 
the city. An Indian guided the army to the 
principal quarters of the Mexicans, which were be- 
ing stormed. The natives had already taken the 
terrace and upper story of the building; but the 
Mexicans within fought so bravely, that the as- 
sailants had been unable to force an entrance to 
the main building. Cortes soon accomplished 
this: the furious natives rushed in upon the 
Mexicans, who resisted to the last man. Cortes 
had wished to save some of them alive, that 
he might get from them some information with 
regard to the movements of Cuitlahua. But he 
could rescue only one, and he was '* more dead 
than alive." 

The main army of the Mexicans was sta- 
tioned immediately beyond the city, on a hill. 
Some fugitive Mexicans who had escaped the 
slaughter within Huacachula fled toward the 
encampment. But the army had already been 
roused by the noise of conflict, and was advanc- 
ing to the scene of battle when they were met 
by the fugitives. The army was composed, most- 
ly, of the wealthier Mexicans. They were richly 
decked with gems, gold, and brilliant feathers, 
and presented the finest appearance of any Az- 
tec warriors the Spaniards had yet seen. Before 



MAKING A FRESH START. 26$ 

the latter had discovered their presence, they had 
already fired a quarter of the town. On being 
informed of this, Cortes advanced, and charged 
them with only his cavalry, his infantry being 
much fatigued. When the Spanish horsemen 
dashed upon them at full speed the Mexicans 
retreated, drawing the cavalry after them into a 
narrow pass. Still the Spaniards hotly pursued 
up the face of a rugged acclivity. When they 
had reached the summit the heat of the sun 
under this southern sky, had so prostrated horse 
and man, that neither Mexicans nor Spaniards 
could advance or retreat. Some of the men 
and several of the horses fell dead. The Indian 
allies of the Spaniards, however, eager for battle, 
had followed up the pursuit. Arriving upon the 
scene, fresh and ferocious, they drew the Span- 
iards with them in a head-long charge, which 
put the Mexicans to flight doing them much 
injury. The victors pursued, and soon reached 
the deserted camp of the Mexican army. Here 
they found rich booty in slaves and stores, to 
which the assembled natives, who had hastened 
in numbers to join the pursuit, helped them- 
selves plentifully. 

After a few days rest Cortes marched to a 
city some twelve miles distant, called Iztucan, 



266 MONTEZUMA. 

where a Mexican garrison had been stationed 
and which was devoted to the interests of 
Mexico, its cacique being a relative of Monte- 
zuma. Such multitudes of natives followed the 
victorious Spaniards on their march, that Cortes 
asserts that they covered the hills and valleys 
almost as far as one could see. The city of 
Iztucan was almost entirely surrounded by a bend 
in the river which ran near it. Warned of the 
army's approach, the inhabitants had sent away 
their women, children, and old people, while the 
warriors remained to defend it. They bravely 
attempted its defence, but they soon saw that 
the Spaniards had been informed of the weakest 
side of their city. Having gained an entrance, 
the invaders pursued the defenders, over the 
walls of the city, and across the river. The 
natives destroyed the bridges behind them, how- 
ever, thus checking for a moment the pursuit. 
The Spaniards and their allies, soon followed, 
swimming and effecting a crossing as best they 
might. They pursued the fugitives some miles, 
and then returned to the rich plunder of the 
conquered town 

Cortes' victories made him a hero among 
the natives, who were eager to follow a standard 
which led to rich spoil. A wide and populous 



MAKING A FRESH START. 267 

tract of country owned submission to him. He 
became umpire in all the difficulties of the 
people. He was now no longer a fugitive, 
fleeing from the enemy and dependant on his 
Tlascalan allies for support and protection. 

About this time Maxixca, the chief who had 
befriended the Spaniards in the Tlascalan coun- 
cils, died. The small -pox had been brought 
over by a negro on board of Narvaez' fleet. It 
had been communicated to the Cempoallan In- 
dians, and had spread over the country. This 
European plague was a most terrible scourge 
among the natives, who knew nothing of its 
treatment. It had reached Tlascala, and carried 
away the friendly old chief, much to the sorrow 
of the Spaniards. Cortes aM his officers put on 
mourning on the occasion. It soon spread to 
Mexico, where the king, Cuj'tlahua, fell a victim 
to this subtile ally of the white man. The 
disease travelled on toward the Pacific coast, 
killing off the natives in imme-'xse numbers. The 
small-pox was so prevalent in ^he provinces now 
owning allegiance to the king of Spain, that 
Cortes was frequently called upon to appoint a 
new cacique for some town whosr chief had died 
of this disease. 

Cortes now allowed a number of Narvaea 



26S MONTEZUMA. 

old officers, who were very importunate, to retjirn 
to Cuba, furnishing them with provisions and a 
good vessel, and sent Alvarado to escort them to 
the coast. He said that he would rather be 
without such unwilling service. Many of the sold- 
iers had become reconciled to another fortune-hunt- 
ing campaign, since the victories of the past 
few weeks. 

All Cortes* plans looked toward the re-taking 
of Mexico. He resolved never to be caught again 
on the fatal causeways unprotected. He felt 
the necessity of vessels, in besieging the capital. 
He formed the plan of building thirteen small 
brigantines in Tlascala and transporting them 
over the mountains to the valley of Mexico. 
He had no sooner conceived this plan than he 
sent Martin Lopez to Tlascala to begin the work. 

The governor of Cuba had heard nothing 
from the main-land since he had sent his last 
expensive expedition. Certain, however, that 
Narvaez was in command of the colony, he 
sent a small vessel to Villa Rica, loaded with 
stores, under command of Barba, the former 
commander at Havana. The captain bore letters 
to Narvaez, in which the governor gave orders 
that, if Cortes was not already dead, he should 
be forwarded to Cuba, that he might be sent on 



MAKING A FRESH START. 269 

from there to Spain. When Barba*s vessel enter- 
ed the harbor of Villa Rica the commander of 
this post went out in a boat to meet him. His 
crew carried concealed arms with them. He 
boarded Barba's vessel, and having saluted the 
captain inquired courteously after the health of 
the governor of Cuba. 

"Very well," responded Barba. *'How is 
Narvaez, and what has become of Cortes ? " 

" Oh, Cortes is a fugitive," said the com- 
mandant, *' and Narvaez is well established and 
in possession of great riches." 

Whereupon, Barba decided to go on shore. 
But he had no sooner descended with the com- 
mandant into his boat than he found Hmself 
a prisoner of Cortes. Barba, however, had of 
old befriended Cortes in his disobedient «. He 
and his crew of thirteen soldiers and tw< horses 
were ready enough to join him in his adven- 
tures. Cortes welcomed them handsoir tly, and 
Barba informed him that he might e?pect an- 
other small vessel in a short time. This 'hip soon 
put in at Villa Rica. Her captain and crew of 
eight soldiers and one horse were added, by the 
same ruse, to Cortes* little army. Great was 
the joy of the Spaniards at these small though 
unexpected recruits. 



2/0 MONTEZUMA. 

But Cortes* good fortune did not stop he^« 
The governor of Jamaica had pursued his pur* 
pose of establishing a colony within the limits 
of Cortes' discoveries. He had sent vessels to 
the river Panuco, some few degrees north of 
Villa Rica, for this purpose. But the Indians 
had resisted the Spaniards, who had lost many 
of their number and were obliged to flee to Villa 
Rit a for relief Vessels destined for this colony 
reached Villa Rica from time to time. Thus 
Garay was adding to Cortes' forces, while he 
supposed he was establishing a rival colony. One 
vessel contained some seventy sickly soldiers, 
many of whom died. Another one contained 
some fifty men and seven horses. These re- 
cruits were so plump in appearance that Cortes' 
men dubbed them " the sirloins." Still another 
vessel arrived, under the command of a man 
known as *' Old Ramirez," with some forty 
men and ten horses. These soldiers wore ex- 
ceedingly thick and clumsy cotton armor, and 
were nicknamed " the pack-horses." Cortes also 
despatched vessels to St. Domingo, fcr re-inforce- 
ments. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

IN THE VALLEY OF MEXICO AGAIN. 

CuiTLAHUA had reigned but three or four 
months, but his reign had been a glorious one 
for the Mexicans, in that he had led them in 
the expulsion of the hated strangers from their 
land. 

A new king was elected in the usual manner. 
Guatemozin, a nephew of the last king and of 
Montezuma, was appointed to the throne. He 
was a fine-looking young man, about twenty -five 
years of age. He took hold of the reins of 
government with courage. His rule was despotic, 
and he soon made himself so terrible to his 
own subjects that they trembled in his presence. 
On ascending the throne, he was married to 
his cousin, a beautiful daughter of Montezuma. 
Guatemozin was informed, through spies, of the 
movements of the enemy. He immediately made 
active preparations for resistance and defense. 

Having finished his conquests in the neighbor- 
hood of Tepeaca, Cortes left a small garrison at 



2^2 MONTEZUMA. 

this post, and returned to Tlascala. Lopez, the 
shipwright, and " Old Ramirez," who was a car- 
penter, were busily at work at the new ships. 
Cortes now sent to Villa Rica for sails, rigging, 
and iron, together with several smiths who were 
there. Pitch, the use of which was unknown to 
the natives, was procured from the neighboring 
mountains. Cortes also had his arms repaired, 
and made such addition to his stock as he could. 
Having procured saltpetre, he desired to get sul- 
phur, for the purpose of manufacturing powder. 
The daring cavalier, Montano, undertook to as- 
cend the volcano of Popocatepetl, to procure this 
article. Montano and his party pushed up to 
the very edge of the crater. The leader was 
let down in a basket into this smoking pit, and 
scraped sulphur from the sides of the crater. 
This operation was repeated a number of times, 
until sufficient sulphur had been procured in this 
hazardous way. Montano was afterwards rewarded 
with a patent of nobility for his daring deed. 

Preparations were well advanced by Christ- 
mas. Cortes reviewed his troops, and found that 
he had some five hundred and fifty men, forty of 
whom were cavalry, and eighty cross-bow-men 
and musketeers. The artillery consisted of some 
eight or nine field-pieces. 



IN THE VALLEY OF MEXICO AGAIN. 273 

The Spaniards began their march for Mexico 
on the very last days of 1520, leaving the ship- 
builders and most of the Tlascalan forces to fol- 
low when the vessels should be finished. Cortes 
had chosen the most rugged route across the 
mountains, knowing that the Mexicans would lie 
in wait for him, and thinking them less likely to 
protect this pass. The road was indeed so steep 
and rough that it was almost impassable for an 
army. A toilsome climb finally brought the 
Spaniards to the summit of the ridge. They suf- 
fered severely from cold at this elevation, and 
they looked anxiously for an attack in the nar- 
row defile. As they began to descend, they 
found the huge trees felled across the road, 
to obstruct the passage. The cavalry climbed 
over their trunks with difficulty. Cortes and 
his horsemen, having passed these obstructions, 
waited for the army to come up. They looked 
down upon the beautiful valley of Mexico, which 
lay at their feet, with satisfaction that they had 
overcome so many difficulties. This was tem- 
pered, however, with sorrow, as they distin- 
guished the disastrous battle-ground of the sad 
night. 

** We will never leave the country again with- 
out victory, though it cost us our lives/* they said. 



274 MONTEZUMA. 

The rear had come up now, and the Spaniards 
again resumed their march. Now they could see 
the smoke of beacon fires, rising from the hills 
and showing that the natives had discovered their 
approach. At every turn in the road the Span- 
iards looked for a Mexican force. But none ap- 
peared. The passage was once, indeed, blocked 
by a body of native warriors, but a charge or 
two from the cavalry speedily dispersed them. 
The Mexicans were learning that dread of meet- 
ing Europeans in the open field so characteristic 
of our northern savages. Then, too, the nation 
was at this time ravaged by the small-pox. 

Having descended into the valley, the Span- 
iards took the route to the city of Tezcuco, which 
was across the lake from Mexico, and which 
Cortes had chosen for his headquarters. They 
encamped for the night in a small Indian village. 
In the midst of an enemy's country, the Span- 
iards felt themselves in great peril. Cortes him- 
self joined the watch for the first quarter of the 
night. 

The march was resumed in the morning. 
Tezcuco was the second city in importance in 
the valley, and the Spaniards were not without 
fears as to their reception here. The unfortunate 
king of this province, Cacama, had died in the 



IN THE VALLEY OF MEXICO AGAIN. 2^5 

battle of the sad night. A brother had suc- 
ceeded to the throne, putting to death the 
younger brother whom Cortes had placed there. 

The Tezcucans dared not resist the Span- 
iards. They therefore sent a deputation of nobles 
bearing a standard of gold, to meet the army with 
a peaceable message. The sight of this embassy 
was a great relief to the Spaniards. Cortes, how- 
ever, received the ambassadors, whom he knew 
well, very sternly, for it was in their province that 
his forty-five men with their treasure had been 
taken. Cortes answered their proposal of peace 
by accusing them of the deed and demanding the 
restoration of the gold. The ambassadors an- 
swered that the Mexicans had taken the gold 
from them, and desired the Spaniards to take up 
their quarters in some towns near their city. 
Cortes replied that he would not stop until he 
had marched into Tezcuco. The messengers then 
went away, ostensibly to prepare lodgings for 
the Spaniards. The army was met in the suburbs, 
by natives who furnished it with a good dinner. 

It was, therefore, noon when the Spaniards 
entered Tezcuco. They noticed that the streets 
seemed almost deserted. Cortes marched for the 
royal palace, where he took up his quarters. The 
building was very large, and easily accommodated 



276 MONTEZUMA. 

the whole army. Cortes assembled his men im 
mediately, and caused proclamation to be made 
that no one should leave his quarters without 
permission, under pain of death. He was anxious 
that the inhabitants might receive no insult from 
the soldiery, and might be made to feel secure. 

In the course of the afternoon, several Span- 
iards ascended a temple, and took a survey of 
the city. Behold, the people were all leaving 
it! The inhabitants were carrying their children 
and effects into the woods and to the reedy 
banks of the lake, where canoes awaited them. 
On hearing this, Cortes sent to secure the king 
as a pledge for the return of his people. But 
he had fled betimes across the lake to Mexico, 
taking with him his movable treasure. He had 
sent the embassy and provided the army with 
a dinner, merely that he might give the inhabi- 
tants the more time to evacuate the city. 

It was already night and too late for Cortes 
to put any stop to the flight. He turned the 
event to account, as best he could, by raising 
another brother of this numerous family to the 
throne, through whom he ruled, and induced a 
small portion of the inhabitants to again return 
to the city. The youth soon died, however, and 
Cortes used for his interests still another brother, 



IN THE VALLEY OF MEXICO AGAIN. 277 

with the unpronounceable name of Ixtlilxochitl. 
This prince was a remarkable young warrior. 
His father is reputed to have been a great 
king, though his history, as written by a Mexican 
descendant, savors too much of Spanish ideas 
and Spanish romance to be taken for fact. On 
the birth of this particular prince, the astrology 
of the land indicated, according to tradition, a 
disastrous future for the child. It is said to have 
been predicted that the boy would unite with 
his country's enemies to overthrow it. The king 
was advised to put him to death, but he 
answered, that if his child were destined to co- 
operate with the sons of the gods, who were to 
come from the east, he would not interfere. 
W^ suspect that this prophesy was invented after 
it had been fulfilled. The boy is said to have 
e;»rly shown a spirit of insubordination, and when 
certain councillors repeated the advice which had 
been given at his birth he led a party of 
juvenile warriors to their buildings, and put them 
to death. His father, however, had forgiven him 
when he defended himself as acting the part of 
a warrior. On the death of his father, this 
Irrepressible youth had contested the throne with 
his brother, Cacama. Montezuma had taken the 
part of the latter, but the matter was not settled 



2/8 MONTEZUMA. 

until some of the mountain territory had been 
ceded to Ixtlilxochitl. The young chief had 
made himself famous as a warrior when very 
young. Willing to oppose Montezuma, when 
Cortes had first entered the valley he had formed 
an alliance with the Spaniards. Cortes now made 
him lord of Tezcuco, and he was destined to 
be of great service to the Spaniards. 

The secret of Cortes' success, with an army 
so small, lay in the fact that he took under his 
wing all the malcontents and rebels of the coun- 
try, and forced minor provinces into submission 
before he struck a blow at the central power thus 
enfeebled. By this means, he was furnished with 
provisions and recruits. Under the influence of 
terror, some of the neighboring towns now sent 
in their submission to the Spaniards. When 
Guatemozin heard of this he sent messengers to 
them, asking the meaning of such conduct, 
whether it were from fear, in which case they 
ought to feel more fear of the Mexican armies, 
or whether it were from the wish to retain their 
lands, in which case he offered them larger pos- 
sessions in his dominions. But his messengers 
were seized, and sent to Cortes. The general was 
willing to bring about the subjection of Mexico 
peaceably, if possible. He treated the Mexican 



IN THE VALLEY OF MEXICO AGAIN. 2/9 

messengers handsomely, and sent them back with 
a message, desiring the old relations of friend- 
ship, and promising pardon for past offences. 
But Guatemozin had no intention but to defend 
his city to the last. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

THE IZTAPALAPANS OUTWIT CORTES. 

Cortes resolved to strike his first blow at 
the city of Iztapalapan, which had been the pri- 
vate domain of Cuitlahua, and whose inhabitants 
entertained an especial enmity for the Spaniards. 
The city was situated on a narrow tongue of 
land between the fresh water lake of Xochicalco 
and the salt lake of Tezcuco. Part of its houses 
were bwilt on the land, and part on piles in the 
watei. The fresh water lake was lower than 
that of Tezcuco, the waters of which were kept 
from overflowing the lower region by means of 
a dike. Iztapalapan was especially remarkable for 
its fine gardens, in which Cuitlahua had taken 
great pride. 

Leaving Sandoval in command of a strong 
garrison at Tezcuco, Cortes marched toward Izta- 
palapan, with two hundred Spaniards and some 
thousands of Indian allies. Before they reached 
the city a native force assailed them both by 
land and from the water, which was speedily 



THE IZTAPALAPANS OUTWIT CORTEZ. 28 1 

covered with Indian canoes. The Spaniards 
fought them, and diove them back. The na- 
tives rallied, and again the Spaniards drove them 
before them. The battle was kept up into the 
very streets of the city. Meantime, Cortes had 
noticed some Indians at work upon the dike of 
Lake Tezcuco. He thought no more of it, how- 
ever. Flushed with victory, the Spaniards and 
their allies rushed hotly into the city. The lat- 
ter, like other barbarous forces, were perfectly 
uncontrollable in the hour of victory. They 
slaughtered and plundered without stint. The 
inhabitants had fled to the houses on the 
water. The enemy waded out after them. From 
here most of them escaped in canoes across the 
lake. Those who did not escape were put to the 
sword. And now the men devoted themselves 
to the spoil. They sacked the houses, and left 
many of them in flames. Night came on, and 
they w^ere still busy at their work, so busy that 
they did not at first notice a rising of the sur- 
rounding water. The stealthy but rapid over- 
flow soon became so important as to attract at- 
tention. Then for the first time the meaning of 
the busy workmen on the dike flashed upon the 
mind of Cortes. The brave Iztapalapans had 
thought to drown the hostile army in flooding 



282 MONTEZUMA. 

their homes. The retreat was hastily sounded, 
and the army, laden with plunder, pushed for the 
shore^ chased by the rising waters. They strug- 
gled and waded forward, dropping their spoil by 
the way. Some of the Indians lost their footing, 
and were drowned in the lake. The main army 
finally reached dry land, having lost their rich 
plunder and spoiled their powder. They were, 
moreover, supperless, wet, and cold, while, most 
provoking of all, the Indians mocked them from 
their canoes. They had made their escape none 
too soon, however. Three hours later, they 
would have been cut off from flight. 

When day dawned, the Spaniards saw that the 
two lakes were on a level. A great number of 
Mexicans had sallied forth in their canoes, ex- 
pecting to see the Spaniards caught by the water. 
They gave battle, killed several men and horses, 
while the Spaniards could do them little harm 
as they escaped easily in their canoes. The In- 
dians followed the Spanish army with harassing 
attacks around the borders of the lake to Tezcu- 
co, which the latter reached in no very pleasant 
humor. 

Every now and then some Indian province 
sent a friendly message to Cortes. The people of 
Otumba, where the Spaniards had fought the last 



THE IZTAPALAPANS OUTWIT CORTEZ. 283 

desperate battle of their retreat, now sent in 
their submission with a request for protection 
from Guatemozin's revenge. Cortes' forces were 
so smaJl that he was unable to comply with such 
requests ; but he endeavored to stir the native 
provinces up to the defence of themselves and 
of each other. The city of Chalco, situated on 
the fresh-water lake, was, however, of especial im- 
portance, as it lay on the road between Villa Rica 
and Mexico. These people offered to join the al- 
liance but begged for assistance against the Mexi- 
cans. Cortes, accordingly, sent a detachment of 
Spaniards and the Tlascalans under Sandoval, to 
their aid. The young cavalier, after a brisk skir- 
mish with the enemy, succeeded in relieving the 
people of Chalco from them for a time. 

And now the brigantines had been completed 
and it remained to transport them in pieces to 
Tezcuco. This was a dangerous undertaking, since 
Guatemozin would destroy them if he could. 
The Tlascalans assembled their warriors in great 
numbers for the duty. They sent word to Cortes 
that they were about to start. The general im 
mediately sent a detachment under Sandoval to 
escort them over the mountains. On his way to 
meet the Tlascalans, Sandoval had undertaken to 
chastise an Indian town whose inhabitants had 



284 MONTEZUMA. 

captured the forty-five Spaniards at the time of 
the siege of Cortes. There could be no doubt of 
the fate of these unfortunate men, for their arms 
and accoutrements were found hanging in the In- 
dian temples together with the horses' skins dried 
and their shoes hung up as trophies. In one 
house Sandoval's men found this sentence, traced 
on a white wall with a piece of charcoal: — " Here 
the unfortunate Juan Juste was a prisoner." 
These words filled the hearts of the Spaniards 
with grief. They went eagerly to the attack on 
the town. The inhabitants fled at their approach. 
The Spaniards rode into the town, killing the 
warriors and capturing the women and children 
for slaves. 

Sandoval was moved by compassion for the 
unhappy people. He ceased the pursuit, endeav- 
ored to gather together the remaining inhabitants, 
and left them in possession of the town. 

Sandoval marched on across the frontier to a 
Tlascalan town where he found the brigantines 
and their escort awaiting him. The following 
day, the great force began their march for 
Tezcuco. According to Cortes' account, thou- 
sands of men were engaged in transporting the 
beams and timbers of the vessels. Eight Spanish 
cavalry and a hundred Spanish foot led the van. 



THE IZTAPALAPANS OUTWIT CORTEZ. 285 

The porters were guarded on either side by na- 
tive warriors, while another Spanish guard and a 
large army under the Tlascalan chief, Chichime- 
catl, brought up the rear. This chief had at first 
commanded the van, but had been ordered to the 
rear, as the planks were under his especial guard, 
and it was feared that in the van, which was the 
post of the most danger, they would be an em- 
barrassment in case of attack. But Chichimecatl, 
who courted danger, was greatly offended at this 
arrangement. When his wounded pride was 
finally pacified by his being assured that the rear 
was in reality the most dangerous post, he was 
unwilling that any Spaniards should remain with 
him in the rear guard as he wanted the honor 
all to himself. 

After three days march, the army reached 
Tezcuco in safety, marching to the noise of 
Indian drums. There was great rejoicing among 
the Spaniards at the arrival of their brigantines. 
It took more than six hours for the line of war- 
riors to march into the city. Nothing remained 
now but to have them put together. Cortes had 
always to keep a strong guard over his little dock- 
yard , for the Mexicans were bent on destroying 
the vessels, and more than once made attacks, 
and attempted to set them afire. 



286 MONTEZUMA. 

He expressed the warmest thanks to the Tlas* 
calan chieftains, and provided them with fine 
quarters and handsome entertainment. 

" We only await your commands," said the 
eager chiefs. *' We and our people have come 
determined to be revenged or die." 

" I beg you will first rest yourselves," answered 
Cortes, "and I assure you I will soon give you 
your hands full." 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

CORTES RECONNOITRES. 

The brigantines were to be finished before 
the final blow could be struck at Mexico. Cortes 
resolved to use this to the best purpose in 
lopping off branches of Guatemozin's kingdom. 
Three or four days after the arrival of the Tlas- 
calans, Cortes ordered them to be in readiness, 
together with some three hundred of his own 
troops. The army marched forth in the early 
morning, ignorant of its destination; for Cortes 
feared that the Mexicans would get some inkling 
of his plans through the Tezcucan Indians, who 
were none too faithful to the Spaniards. The 
army marched all day. Just as night was coming 
on, they met a Mexican force. A brisk charge of 
cavalry drove the latter into the woods. 

The nimble-footed Tlascalans kept up the pur- 
suit until many were slain. The army then en- 
camped for the night, Cortes enforcing a strict 
watch. He resumed his march on the follow- 
ing day. His route lay along the shore of the 



288 MONTEZUMA. 

salt lake and around some smaller lakes north 
of it. 

The army approached a village, built on piles 
in the water, where they understood that the 
enemy was in force. Cortes resolved to make 
an attack. But he discovered that the only 
causeway which led to the town had been broken. 
The Aztecs rushed out to meet the Spaniards in 
their canoes which were shielded by strong wood- 
en screens, rendering the fire of Spanish mus- 
ketry quite unavailing. The Spaniards and their 
allies began to fear the entire failure of the at- 
tack. At this juncture, some friendly Indians in- 
formed Cortes of a ford. The army then began 
wading for the village, Cortes and a detachment 
keeping guard from the land side. The men 
rushed into the town, slaughtering the inhabi- 
tants and driving them to their boats. After a 
time they returned to shore bringing with them 
a booty of the valuables of the country, mantles, 
salt, gold, and slaves. Cortes marched a league 
farther, and encamped for the night. 

He had scarcely resumed his march in the 
morning when the Aztecs again attacked him. 
The Spaniards drove the enemy, and came upon 
a large and beautiful city which was entirely de 
serted. Here they encamped for the night. The 



CORTES RECONNOITRES. 289 

next town they came to was also deserted, and 
they marched right through this and on to the 
city of Acapuzalco, which was famous for its gold 
smiths. The inhabitants had fled, however, tak 
ing their valuables with them. 

The Spaniards in their course around the 
lakes had now reached the neighborhood of the 
capital, which Cortes wished to reconnoitre. He 
pushed on, therefore, toward Tacuba, the scene 
of the night retreat from Mexico. The Mexi- 
cans had stationed a force to guard this city. 
The Spaniards were forced to cut their way 
through the enemy. Arrived at the city, the 
whole army took up its quarters for the night 
in the palace at Tacuba. The allies began pil- 
laging and destroying the city by fire on the fol- 
lowing day. Cortes spent six days in the city of 
Tacuba, occupied constantly in skirmishes with 
the Mexicans. These warriors and the Tlascalans 
were hourly exchanging threats and bravadoes and 
sometimes meeting each other in single combat. 

Guatemozin succeeded in drawing Cortes into 
a trap. In one of their engagements, the Mexi- 
cans made a feint of retreating across the cause- 
way, drawing the Spaniards after them. Sud- 
denly Cortes found himself surrounded by vast 
numbers of Indians upon the causeway and in the 



290 MONTEZUMA. 

water. Five Spaniards fell dead, and numbers were 
wounded. A Spanish ensign was thrown into the 
water, and the Mexicans were dragging him to 
their canoes, that they might reserve him for 
sacrifice. By a superhuman effort he wrenched 
himself from their grasp, and escaped still hold- 
ing his colors. The Mexican warriors tauntingly 
invited the Spaniards to re-enter Mexico. 

"Go in! go in, and enjoy yourselves!" they 
cried. And again, " Do you think there is a sec- 
ond Montezuma to do your bidding?" 

Cortes still hoped to effect a compromise. 
He beckoned for silence. Spaniards and Mexi- 
cans ceased, for a moment, their taunts and fight- 
ing. '* Why are you so foolish," said he, " as to 
seek your own ruin ? If there is any one of 
your principal chiefs among you, I would like 
him to make his appearance, for I wish to speak 
him." 

** Oh, we are all chiefs," cried the derisive war- 
riors. " Say what you please." 

Cortes was silent. The Mexicans then began 
to load him with reproaches. 

" Let them die of hunger," cried a Spanish 
soldier. " Let us not suffer them to leave the 
city." 

" We are in no want," retorted the Mexicans, 



CORTES RECONNOITRES. 29I 

"and when we get out of food we will eat you 
and the Tlascalans." One of them reached out 
some corn cakes in derision. ''Take these/* he 
cried, " for we have an abundance besides." 
Then they began to utter their war cries, which 
Cortes says are " certainly terrible to hear." 
They attacked the Spaniards with redoubled fero- 
city, and Cortes saw that his imprudence had 
gotten him into a dangerous position. He or- 
dered a retreat from the causeway. Inch by 
inch, the Spaniards fell back, fronting the enemy 
and giving battle all the time. 

Having accomplished his main purpose, a par- 
Icy with the Mexicans, Cortes began the return 
march for Tezcuco. When the Mexicans discov- 
ered this, they thought he was retreating from 
fear, and they fell upon his flanks in great num- 
bers. Cortes adopted their own tactics, to rid 
himself of this annoyance. He placed some 
twenty horsemen, under his own lead, in ambush, 
at the rear of the army. Shortly after, the Mexi- 
can warriors came rushing by in pursuit of the 
Spanish army. Waiting until the enemy had 
passed, Cortes gave the signal, and the cavalry 
rushed upon their rear *' in very handsome style," 
as Cortes says. The allies faced about, and 
joined the attack. The Mexicans were so se- 



292 MONTEZUMA. 

verely punished that they gave up the idea that 
this was a panic-stricken army which could be 
braved without danger. 

Cortes encamped on the last night in a 
pretty little village, a few miles from Tezcuco. 
Arrived on the following day at headquarters, he 
found the garrison, which had heard nothing from 
him, delighted at his return. The Tlascalans 
were now anxious to return home with their 
plunder, which was very considerable. Cortes 
did not refuse them this, and probably it would 
have been useless to do so. These wild warriors 
had many characteristics in common with the 
savages of our own country. 

Guatemozin had many strong garrisons around 
the edge of the valley and in the surrounding 
mountains. The people of Chalco were especially 
menaced by these posts, and they again sent an 
appeal to Cortes. The general immediately dis- 
patched Sandoval with some twenty horse, and 
three hundred foot to their assistance. This cav- 
alier hastened to Chalco, where he was joined by 
a large force of Indian allies. From here the 
army set forth for Huaxtepec, the principal Mex- 
ican garrison in the neighborhood. Sandoval 
was met on the way by a Mexican army advanc- 
ing in three columns, to the wild sound of theif 



CORTES RECONNOITRES. 293 

musical instruments. Cavalry was the Spaniards* 
main weapon in war with the natives, and a C£lv« 
airy charge usually opened the battle, and was 
frequently sufficient to disperse the enemy. San- 
doval now put himself at the head of his cavalry. 

"St. lago for us! Comrades, fall on!" cried 
the young commander. 

A brisk charge broke the main Mexican col- 
umn, but the warriors rallied and again presented 
an unbroken front. The ground was rough and 
very unfavorable to cavalry, so Sandoval ordered 
up his musketeers and cross-bow-men to engage 
the enemy in front. The troops armed with 
sword and buckler were to turn the flanks of the 
Mexicans, while the cavalry were to act under 
their leader as opportunity presented. The In- 
dian allies were also brought forward to the 
attack. The united forces finally forced the 
enemy to retreat, but only to a second and 
stronger position, very unfavorable for the cav- 
alry. The Spanish army finally dislodged the 
brave Mexican warriors, and pursued them to the 
town. The Spaniards now chose an encampment 
for the night. The soldiers were busy in the 
usual camp duties, and the horsemen were seek- 
ing forage for their horses, when the cry arose: 

** To arms! to arms! the enemy is coming.** 



294 MONTEZUMA. 

The whiz of stones and arrows and the fearful 
war cry rang through the air. Every man, In- 
dian and Spaniard, sprang for his arms, and to- 
gether they rushed upon the enemy. After a 
severe skirmish, the Mexicans were driven back. 
But Sandoval's blood was up, and, with an impetu- 
ous pursuit, he drove them completely from the 
town. He took up his quarters for the night in 
a garden where the air was laden with sweet 
scents. The morning discovered this to be a 
beautiful spot, the finest garden the Spaniards 
had seen in the new world, ornamented with 
handsome buildings, a cool stream running 
through it, decked with beds of flowers, and with 
trees of many kinds. Here the weary and 
wounded Spaniards rested for two days. 

Sandoval next marched upon the town of 
Acapichtla, defended by another strong Mexican 
garrison. This town was built upon a rocky 
height, inaccessible to cavalry. The army no 
sooner approached than the inhabitants hurled 
down missiles upon their heads. The allies drew 
back at the idea of making the steep ascent to 
this fortress in the face of the enemy. But some 
of the cavalry dismounted, others were left as a 
guard in the plain, while the Spaniards led the 
way up the steep. With determined efforts, they 



CORTES RECONNOILRES. 295 

scaled the heights, closely followed by their In- 
dian allies. Sandoval and a number of his men 
were wounded in the ascent. But they fought 
their way into the town. The allies now made 
up for their previous tardiness, by saving the 
Spaniards the trouble of putting the garrison to 
death. The Spaniards, on their part, were only 
too willing to devote themselves to the search 
after gold and the capture of women and chil- 
dren for slaves. The army returned in triumph 
to Tezcuco, well loaded with spoil. 

When Guatemozin heard of these losses, he 
was greatly enraged against the people of Chalco, 
and resolved to punish them for their rebellion. 
The Spaniards had no sooner turned their backs 
than some two thousand canoes came swiftly 
down the lakes to Chalco, bearing an avenging 
army. Sandoval had not had time to make a 
report to Cortes when fresh complaints came 
from the inhabitants of Chalco that the Mexicans 
were upon them. Cortes, thinking that Sando- 
val had not executed his commission well, flew 
into a violent passion, and ordered Sandoval back 
to Chalco without hearing him out. The brave 
young officer obeyed, indignant at his command- 
er's injustice. 

Forced to it, the people of Chalco had 



296 MONTEZUMA. 

summoned their allies, marched forth, met the 
Mexicans, and repulsed them. The battle was 
over when Sandoval arrived, so he marched back 
again to Tezcuco. Cortes had forgotten his 
momentary anger, and was delighted with the 
event; but Sandoval turned away, and refused 
to speak to him. Cortes, however, was too wise 
a general to omit making ample amends to the 
most valuable of his officers. 

The road was now open between the garrison 
at Villa Rica and the headquarters at Tezcuco. 
Great was Cortes' delight to hear, about this 
time, of the arrival of three vessels containing 
fresh recruits, These probably came from St. 
Domingo, where Cortes had sent for recruits. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

FORTS UPON ROCKS. SOME NARROW ESCAPES. 

The Mexicans could not endure the de- 
fection of Chalco, especially as the province was 
a corn country, and both sides felt it important 
for supplies. Only a few days had passed when 
an embassy arrived from this place. The mes- 
sengers spread before Cortes a large white cloth, 
on which was traced . a map of the country 
about their city, representing the various towns 
from which the enemy designed to attack them. 

Early in April, 1521, Cortes marched at the 
head of some three hundred and thirty Spaniards 
and a large force of Tezcucan Indians. He 
designed to make a circuit around the southern 
end of the valley, chastising his enemies, and 
relieving the inhabitants of Chalco from their 
apprehensions. He marched through this city, 
gathering native recruits. Indeed the largest 
numbers of Indians which had ever marched 
after Cortes now flocked to his standard, at- 
tracted by his friendly treatment of them, but 



2^8 MONTEZUMA. 

more than all by his reputation for success and 
the prospect of plunder. 

Cortes marched to the southward, and entered 
the mountain passes, held by the Mexicans, 
who were wont to sweep down upon the rebel- 
lious provinces in the valley at any moment. 
The route lay between two high, rocky cliffs 
upon the summits of which was here and there 
a fortress. The garrisons of these posts greeted 
the hostile army with loud taunts and reproaches. 
But Cortes would not be enticed away from his 
main purpose. The army passed on, through a 
deserted town. The inhabitants had fled to their 
rocky defenses, where they felt themselves safe 
in inviting the revenge of the enemy. The army 
now entered a plain from which rose a steep 
acclivity, on the summit of which stood a fort. 
Here the women and children of the country 
had taken refuge, and here they were guarded 
by their hardy warriors. At the approach of 
the army, they sounded the alarm, and signalled 
to other heights by means of smoke. As the 
Spaniards approached the place, showers of stones 
darts, and arrows, fell upon their heads, doing 
them much injury. Cortes did not like to pass 
by, laying himself open to a suspicion of cowardice 
both from his enemies and his allies. He resolved 



FORTS UPON ROCKS, NARROW ESCAPES. 299 

to give the garrison " something they would not 
relish," as he expresses it. He caused the rock 
which was about a league in circumference to 
be reconnoitred. The ascent seemed almost 
perpendicular at any point. The thought of 
taking it, said Cortes, " seemed like madness." 
He could, indeed, have besieged it, and forced 
the garrison to surrender by starvation; but he 
had not the time to spend. He made the mad 
resolve to storm it. He ordered his men to 
ascend, under the lead of an ensign, named 
Christoval Corral, while the cavalry remained to 
keep guard on the plain. The brave soldiers 
began to scramble up from ledge to ledge. The 
Indians above rolled down large masses of rock. 
Sometimes they fell among the clambering sol- 
diers, sometimes they bounded from ledge to 
ledge, skipping the Spaniards. An immense rock 
fell upon the head of one soldier who was 
provided with a helmet, and killed him instantly. 
A moment after two more soldiers were crushed. 
Still the Spaniards clambered up, wounded, if 
not killed by the rolling stones. Another soldier 
fell and then two more. Corral still kept the 
lead. He had received a wound on the head, 
his face was covered with blood, and the colors 
which he bore were in tatters. Close behind 



300 MONTEZUMA. 

him, followed Bernal Diaz with all the ardor of 
youth. They sheltered themselves in the con- 
cavities of the rock, and worked their way 
upwards from hollow to hollow. Presently Corral 
called out : 

" Oh, Signor Bernal Diaz, here is no advanc- 
ing. Remain under cover, for it is as much as 
I can do to keep my hold and preserve myself 
from falling.'* 

Diaz looked back. There were Barba and twG 
soldiers following up under shelter of the projec- 
tions in the face of the rock. *' It is of no use 
to advance," shouted Diaz, " it is impossible to 
climb much farther." 

" Stop your talking, and proceed," answered 
Barba. 

Piqued at this rejoinder, Diaz climbed some- 
what higher. ** Now we will see how you will 
do," he retorted. Just then a rolling rock crushed 
one of Barba's men, and he dared not stir farther. 

"Tell the general that it is impossible to pro- 
ceed farther, and that even the descent is very 
dangerous," called out Corral to those below. 

Cortes could not see the climbers because of 
the inequalities in the rock. The cavalry had not 
been without a share in the danger. Three of 
the horsemen were killed and seven wounded 



FORTS UPON ROCKS, NARROW ESCAPES. 3OI 

by the masses of rock which had bounded down 
the hill-side and into the plain. When, therefore, 
Corral's words had passed down the line of clam- 
bering soldiers, he gave signals to descend. The 
survivors reached the ground covered with blood 
and bruises. 

Numbers of warriors had been collecting in 
the plain below, preparing to attack the rear of 
the Spanish army. Cortes led his men in a charge 
upon them. The cavalry galloped two or three 
miles across the plain, charging to the right and 
then to the left. They discovered another cliff 
surmounted by a fortress, and this one seemed 
more accessible. Cortes decided to move on to 
this position, especially as his men were suffer- 
ing for water and could find none where they 
were. It was with " sad enough feelings," how- 
ever, that they abandoned this fort, defeated. 
They encamped for the night without having 
found water either for man or horse. The enemy 
added to the discomfort of their situation by 
making the night hideous with their drums, trum- 
pets, and cries. 

In the morning, while the horses were being 
led several miles away for water, Cortes recon- 
noitred. This cliff also seemed very difficult of 
ascent but Cortes found that it was commanded 



302 MONTEZUMA. 

by a neighboring eminence. He immediately sent 
a detachment to gain this point, while he led the 
ascent up the main hill. The garrison concen- 
trated all its forces upon the defense, rolling 
stones down on the heads of the assaulting party. 
These, on their part, toiled up the sides of the 
jrock, and the events of the day before seemed 
likely to be repeated. But the other detachment 
had already gained the neighboring eminence, from 
which they poured a steady fire in upon the gar- 
rison. The Indians soon threw down their arms 
and sic'nalled their surrender. Several chiefs de- 
scended to confer with Cortes. He treated them 
very kindly and promised to pardon them if they 
would induce the garrison, which he had aban- 
doned with so much regret the day before, to sur- 
render. The capitulation of both garrisons was 
thus speedily brought about. Meantime, some 
hardy soldiers clambered to the top of the rock. 
They found that the summit of the cliff extended 
into a wide plain. A large number of women and 
children had taken refuge in the fortress with 
their valuables packed in bales. 

Cortes rested here several days, sending the 
wounded back to Tezcuco. He then returned in 
the direction of Huaxtepec, which had formerly 
surrendered to Sandoval. He was well received 



FORTS UPON ROCKS, NARROW ESCAPES. 303 

by the cacique of the place, and the army was 
entertained in the beautiful gardens which the 
Spanish general had not seen before. From here 
the general again entered the mountains, and de- 
scended the southern slope of the Cordilleras, 
toward a large town called Cuernavaca. which 
he designed to take if possible. This city was 
very strongly situated. It was surrounded on 
three sides by deep gorges. The sides of these 
rocky ravines are almost perpendicular. They 
are thus entirely protected from the cold moun- 
tain breezes, their rocky walls reflect the heat of 
a southern sky, and the bottom is filled with a 
rich tropical vegetation, furnishing the people of 
the country with the fruits of the tropics, in a 
temperate region. Cortes found himself on the 
brink of one of these dizzy ravines, which lay be- 
tween him and the city. The place was provided, 
indeed, with wooden drawbridges, but these were 
raised. Cortes and the cavalry made a circuit of 
several miles, in search for an entrance. Mean- 
time, some Spanish foot and Tlascalan Indians 
were also looking for a pass. They found a place 
where two trees, overhanging the gorge from op- 
posite sides, met. One of the nimble Indians 
tried this hazardous passage, and crossed. Span- 
iards and Tlascalans followed to the number of 



304 MONTEZDMA. 

about thirty. Three of the men who attempted 
tc cross in this way fell into the ravine below. 
Bernal Diaz, who was one of the party, says that 
the attempt was so frightful that in crossing he 
lost his sight from dizziness, and narrowly escaped 
falling. The sight of these few men frightened 
the inhabitants, who thought that the enemy were 
upon them. They began to flee. While this was 
going on Cortes and the main Spanish army were 
engaged with the warriors across the intervening 
gulf. These annoyed the Spanish troops by stones, 
arrows, and darts. Meantime, the men who had 
crossed over on the trees, came up in the rear 
of the defenders, and began to " cut and slash at 
them " vehemently. Deceived, like the inhabi- 
tants, with the idea that the Spaniards had 
crossed in numbers, the Indian warriors began to 
fly. Cortes now galloped to the mountain side of 
the city, and, having discovered the entrance, un- 
defended led his army in. They pursued the in- 
habitants, destroying them and driving them into 
the mountains. The town was set afire. Finally 
the Indian chiefs came to offer their submission. 
The army slept that night in the gardens of the 
city. 

On the following day, Cortes turned again 
toward the valley of Mexico. The weather was 



FORTS UPON ROCKS, NARROW ESCAPES. 305 

sultry, and the army suffered greatly from thirst, 
for there was no water to be found in the coun- 
try. The Indians fainted on the road, and one 
Spaniard died by the way. Cortes now directed 
his march through the valley to the city of 
Xochimilco, built upon the fresh water lake, 
some ten or fifteen miles from Mexico. 

Xochimilco had a large and intelligent popula- 
tion. The people had been informed of the ap- 
proach of the Spaniards, and they had labored 
vigorously to defend themselves. They had de- 
stroyed the bridges to that part of their city 
which stood over the water and defended the 
land side by digging canals. Cortes found these 
points guarded by an immense body of warriors 
when he approached the city. He advanced to 
the attack. The Indians were mowed down by 
cross-bows and musketry. The Spaniards plunged 
into the water, and made their way across, some 
of them losing their lives in the attempt. Mean- 
time, Mexican forces attacked the flanks of the 
Spanish army. The battle lasted a half hour 
tvhen the Spanish cavaliers drove the warriors be- 
fore them through their own streets. 

For a time the battle seemed won, but the 
natives were gathering for a fresh attack. They 
hoped to surround the Spaniards, and cut them ofl 



3o6 MONTEZUMA. 

from retreat. The latter were somewhat 00* theif 
guard when a fresh force swept down upon them. 
Cortes led six horsemen who happened to be at 
hand against the enemy. The natives fled from 
fear of the horses. The seven cavaliers galloped 
beyond the limits of the city in their hot pursuit. 
They dared brave almost any number of Indians, 
who stood greatly in dread of their horses. But 
the Aztecs were courageous. Frequently they 
turned and waited to meet the cavaliers with 
sword and shield. Suddenly the horsemen found 
themselves mixed up in a throng of warriors. 
Cortes was separated from his companions. His 
good horse " rode tired under him," and could 
not be spurred to a vigorous charge. Here was 
a prize, indeed, for the brave Aztec warriors. 
They sprang upon the general. His weary horse 
fell. He endeavored to defend himself with his 
lance. But of no avail. It was but a moment's 
work. The Indians had hold of him. They were 
dragging him away for sacrifice when suddenly 
some Tlascalans rushed in to his rescue. Five of 
his servants came up at this moment, artd to- 
gether they beat away the enemy, raised the 
fallen horse and assisted Cortes to mount. He 
had had a narrow escape, 

Meantime the other Spaniards, divided into 



FORTS UPON ROCKS, NARROW ESCAPES. 307 

bodies, had been engaged in beating off the Aztec 
attack in other quarters of the city. Some parties 
of them, hearing the unusual outcry in the quar- 
ter where Cortes was fighting, hurried to the 
spot, and found the little band of cavalry very 
much embarrassed among the canals and beset 
by Indians. The Spaniards forced the enemy to 
give ground, and brought off the horsemen, who 
rode back greatly exhausted. Other detachments 
of the cavalry also came in severely wounded. 
It was almost night, and the Spaniards were 
ready to drop with fatigue; but Cortes ordered 
the bridges which had been destroyed to be filled 
up with stone and brick, that the cavalry might 
have free passage in case of an attack. He then 
posted strong guards, and the army took up their 
quarters within the city for the night. 

Meantime, Guatemozin had heard of the state 
of the city, and had immediately sent a large 
force to the rescue. In the morning Cortes 
ascended a temple. He saw some two thousand 
canoes, as he thought, filled with Mexican war- 
riors and coming to the rescue of Xochimilco. 
The advance guard brandished swords taken 
from the Spaniards on the fatal night retreat. 
At the same time a large force attacked the 
army from the rear. But the Spaniards repulsed 



308 MONTEZUMA. 

them at every point. The cavalry were kept 
busily charging here and there. Two of the 
sv,ords were retaken. Some prisoners who were 
captured confessed that the design of the Mexi- 
cans was to wear the Spaniards 0"t by inces- 
sant attacks. The latter were now destitute of 
powder, and obliged to make arrows for their 
cross-bows as they used them. Cortes decided 
to abandon the city. He first ordered the houses 
to be destroyed, as far as possible, by fire. 

Eager for spoil, some of the Indian allies 
and Spanish troops had obtained information of 
a store of riches which had not been hidden 
by the inhabitants in some houses approached 
by a causeway. They made a journey there, 
and returned loaded with fine cloths and other 
valuables. Others immediately made the attempt. 
They were attacked, however, in their isolated 
position by a body of Mexicans. Many of the 
Spaniards were badly wounded, and four of 
them were carried away alive. These unfortunate 
men were taken to Mexico. Here Guatemozin 
interviewed them, and obtained information of 
the small numbers of the Spaniards and their 
recent losses in killed and wounded. The king 
then ordered their feet and hands to be cut 
off, and they were carried around from city to 



FORTS UPON ROCKS, NARROW ESCAPES. 309 

city in this condition, to strike terror to those 
who should rebel against him. They were finally 
put to death. 

Cortes drew up his troops in a public square, 
and arranged the order of march, placing bodies 
of cavalry in the van, at the rear, and in the 
centre. He made his men a little speech, re- 
minding them of their danger, and advising them 
to leave their plunder behind. 

*' Oh, we are able to defend our properties, 
our persons, and yours also," answered the men. 
So the baggage was taken along. 

When the people of Xochimilco saw the army 
march away, they believed it was from fear 
and fell upon the rear in great numbers. Cor- 
tes again planned an ambuscade of his cavalry. 
He rushed out upon the enemy at the head of 
his men, and pursued them some distance. But 
they had been sharper than he this time, and 
during the pursuit he fell into an Indian ambus- 
cade. The Aztecs sallied out in their turn, 
wounded all the horsemen, and carried off two of 
Cortes* attendants, young men of whom he was 
very fond. The horsemen themselves escaped 
with difficulty. Cortes joined the main army, 
shedding tears at the loss of his men. 

The Spaniards were now nearing Mexico, 



3IO MONTEZUMA. 

Swarms of warriors attacked them from the lake 
They made a raid upon the Indian porters who 
carried the plunder. But the Spaniards threw 
their lances first to one side and then the other, 
beating them off. When they passed through 
Tacuba, it was raining heavily, and a halt was 
ordered, that the soldiers might shelter themselves 
in the buildings. Cortes, with his captains and 
Father Olmedo, ascended the temple to get a 
view of Mexico. The numerous towns rising 
out of the water, the darting canoes, and the 
city itself made the sight a charming one. All 
admired the scene but Cortes, who was still sad 
and moody. Father Olmedo tried to console him 
for his recent loss. 

"Those things are but the fortune of war, 
general," said one of his men. 

" I am only sad," answered Cortes, " to think 
of the dangers and fatigues that we shall have to 
go through. But I shall shortly put my hand to 
the task." 

The wayworn army finally reached Tezcuco. 
And here a new danger threatened the grand 
schemes of Hernando Cortes. A conspiracy had 
grown in the army under the leadership of an ad- 
herent of the governor of Cuba, named Villa- 
fana. The conspirators were to give Cortes a 



FORTS UPON ROCKS, NARROW ESCAPES. 31I 

letter purporting to be sent from his father by a 
vessel which had newly arrived on the coast. 
While he was reading it, they plotted to assas- 
sinate him and his trusty officers with their 
poniards. At the last moment, a soldier whose 
heart failed him revealed the plot to Cortes. The 
latter immediately went to the quarters of Villa- 
fana, accompanied by his faithful friends. They 
found the villain with some of the conspirators. 
Cortes caused them all to be seized. He then 
took from the bosom of Villafana a paper contain- 
ing the signatures of all the conspirators. Having 
read this paper he destroyed it, in consideration 
of those concerned. The leader was tried, con- 
fessed his guilt, and was put to death. Of the 
others who had been captured, some were put in 
prison for a short time, but without further pun- 
ishment, enough having been done for an exam- 
ple. Cortes now thought it prudent to appoint a 
body guard. With admirable policy, he always 
treated the conspirators with great attention. 
They, on their part, knew that he knew of their 
guilt, but dared not show a sign which would 
mark them before their comrades ; and, though 
Cortes was uniformly friendly, he knew against 
whom he had to guard. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

SPANISH BRIGANTINES AND MEXICAN CANOES. 

Cortes considered his little fleet of brigan- 
ties, propelled by sail and oar, as the " key to 
the war." They were finished now, and a good 
canal had been constructed, by Indian workman, 
for their transportation from the royal gardens 
to the lake. Cortes held a general muster of 
his forces. He found that they amounted to 
eighty cavalry and some eight hundred foot. He 
had three large cannons and fifteen small, brass 
field-pieces. He was now well supplied with 
powder and with copper-tipped lances made by 
the friendly natives from a pattern which he had 
furnished them. 

Though many of Cortes* men had been sailors, 
none of them were willing to serve at the oars 
on the brigantines. Cortes selected those who 
were natives of sea coast towns, and manned his 
fleet with them. Many of them objected that 
they were " gentlemen " and therefore exempt 
from such menial labor, but Cortes paid no at- 



SPANISH BRIGANTINES, MEXICAN CANOES. 313 

tention. Each little vessel was provided with one 
of the brass field-pieces by way of artillery. 

Cortes had sent word to Tlascala and the 
other allied provinces that he was now ready to 
strike the final blow. The Tlascalan forces ar- 
rived at Tezcuco a few days earlier than Cortes 
had appointed. They marched through the streets 
in all the bravery of their war costumes, shouting 
" Castile and Tlascala ! ** 

To completely invest Mexico, which was ap- 
proached by three long causeways Cortes sepa- 
rated his forces into three divisions. The first 
division, under Alvarado, was to occupy Tacuba, 
and thus secure the causeway of the fatal retreat; 
the second, under Olid, was to take up its quarters 
at the town of Cojohuacan, over-looking the south- 
ern causeway, while the third under Sandoval was 
to attack Iztapalapan, as Cortes dared not leave 
so strong a post in his rear. To each of these 
divisions was added an Indian force amounting to 
from twenty to thirty thousand men. if we may 
credit Cortes. The general himself took command 
of his little fleet, which was to complete tne in- 
vestment by guarding the water side of Mexico. 

Cortes had several objects to accomplish be- 
fore he began the seige. He wished to cut off the 
city's supply of sweet water, and totally demolish 



314 MONTEZUMA. 

Tztapalapan, which was too strong a post to leave 
in his rear. The two divisions under Alvarado 
and Olid marched to where the great aqueduct, 
bailt of wood, stone, and mortar, a monument of 
the civilization of the Mexicans, crossed the lake. 
This was stoutly defended by the inhabitants of 
the city, both by water and by land. But des- 
perately brave as they were, they could not cope 
with the superior science of the Europeans. The 
Spaniards captured the aqueduct, and broke it. 

The captains now turned their forces toward 
the causeway, resolved to capture, if possible, one 
bridge upon it. Their advance was met by im- 
mense numbers of warriors, swarming upon the 
causeway and darkening the water with their ca- 
noes. Every moment, fresh re-inforcements arrived, 
for the Mexicans were determined in the defense 
of their city. Their first volley of arrows killed 
three and wounded thirty Spanish soldiers. But 
the Spanish army advanced, the Mexicans reced- 
ing before them in order to draw them on. And 
now the Spaniards found themselves upon the 
open causeway, their crowded mass making an ex- 
cellent target for the Mexican warriors in their 
canoes. These were so well defended by stout 
wooden shields that the Spaniards were unable to 
repay them with any effect. The allies proved 



SPANISH BRIGANTINES, MEXICAN CANOES. 315 

only an encumbrance. As for the cavalry, when 
they made a charge along the causeway, they 
were soon brought up against a stout barricade 
defended by Indians armed with long lances. The 
infantry proved no more effective, for when they 
advanced against the Mexican army upon the 
causeway it melted away before them, the war- 
riors throwing themselves into the water on either 
side. Unable to cope with these slippery forces 
which momentarily increased, the army retired 
from the causeway pursued by the Mexicans. 

Olid now moved on to Cojohuacan. Alvarado 
took up his quarters at Tacuba, occupied in daily 
encounters with the enemy. Olid found the 
southern causeway as well guarded as that of 
Tacuba. The two forces scoured the country in 
the neighborhood with their cavalry, capturing a 
great deal of corn. But they were pressed hard 
from the lake side by the brave Mexicans, and 
longed for the arrival of Cortes with his fleet. 

Meantime Sandoval had been despatched to 
Iztapalapan. On his arrival at this city, he im- 
mediately began to attack the inhabitants and set 
fire to the houses. He secured that quarter 
which was built on the land, but the warriors 
made a brave defense of their city, Sandoval was 
fighting them hard when a column of smoke was 



3l6 MONTEZUMA. 

seen to rise from a rocky island in the lake. Im- 
mediately smoke could be seen upon the summits 
of innumerable hills and temples, and the Indian 
warriors began to draw off. This rising smoke 
was a signal, indicating that the Mexicans had 
discovered the approach of Cortes* fleet. 

By the aid of sail and oar the little vessels 
had sped down the lake about the first of May 
1 521. Near the southern shore, a steep, rocky 
island rose out of the water. A body of Mexican 
warriors, together with some inhabitants of the 
lake shore, held this spot, and it was here that 
the first smoke signal was given. As the vessels 
passed close under the rock, they were greeted 
by volleys of stones and arrows from its summit. 
Cortes immediately changed his course, landed a 
hundred and fifty warriors, and clambered up the 
steep sides of the rocks over the entrenchments 
on its summit. The Spaniards put every warrior 
to the sword, but spared the women and chil- 
dren who had taken refuge here. This rock was 
was named for Cortes after he had received a title 
of nobility. It was called *' the rock of the Mar- 
quis." The signals of smoke had aroused Mexico 
as well as the other cities of the lake. The war- 
riors gathered in their canoes from every quar- 
ter to destroy the fleet. Suddenly the Spaniards 



SPANISH BRIGANTINES, MEXICAN CANOES. 317 

descried an immense fleet of canoes in the dis- 
tance. Cortes said, as nearly as he could judge, 
they amounted to five hundred boats. They had 
scarcely ended their battle with the garrison of 
the rock. Cortes and his men instantly hurried 
on board their vessels. He ordered his captains 
by no means to move, but to remain where they 
were, thus encouraging the Indians to believe that 
they shrank from the encounter. The fleet of 
canoes came directly on toward the vessels until 
within two bowshots when they suddenly stopped 
and rested quiet, facing the Spanish boats. The 
hostile fleets remained thus for some time look- 
ing at each other. Cortes was very anxious to 
achieve a signal victory at this encounter, that 
the Mexicans might learn to dread his brigantines. 
Suddenly a favorable wind came from the land. 
Cortes took advantage of it to make an impressive 
descent upon the enemy. The canvas filled, and 
the Spanish vessels swooped down upon the lines 
of light canoes, breaking those they encountered 
into splinters, and sweeping the water with their 
artillery. At this destructive shock the Indians 
fled. The swifter brigantines bore down upon 
them upsetting the canoes to right and left. " We 
destroyed many of the enemy in a style worthy 
of admiration,*' says Cortes with the enthusiasm 



3l8 MONTEZUMA. 

of a general to vvrhom human life is of little ac 
count. For " three long leagues " the brigantineg 
pursued their prey, until the Indians had sheltered 
themselves among the houses of Mexico. 

Alvarado's division, out of sight behind the 
city, did not see the approach of the fleet, but 
Olid's men were in full view of this water battle. 
They were inspired with fresh courage when they 
saw the swift little vessels scattering all before 
them. They took up their march for the cause- 
way, at which they had heretofore been defeated. 
They attacked the distracted Mexicans with such 
force as to gain many of the trenches and barri- 
cades by which they were sheltered, and passed 
horse and foot over some of the bridges on this 
long reach of causeway. Spaniards and Tlasca- 
lans pursued the enemy, until they were checked 
by some towers containing a Mexican garrison. 

It was already evening when Cortes called to- 
gether his vessels from the pursuit, and sailed 
toward the long causeway, where the battle was 
raging This causeway branched, before it reached 
the shore, into two. At the point of junction, 
where a broad low wall was built out into the 
water, were the towers containing idols which had 
checKcd Olid's men. The place was called Xoloc. 
Cortes sailed directly for this spot. With great 



SPANISH BRIGANTINES, MEXICAN CANOES. 319 

spirit, the Mexican garrison defended the towers. 
But their courage could not avail against the 
ordnance of the Spaniards. Cortes captured the 
towers, and immediately landed his three heavy 
cannon. The whole length of the causeway be- 
tween Xoloc and the city was black with Mexican 
warriors, while the neighboring waters swarmed 
with canoes. He leveled one of the guns, and 
thus raked the causeway with terrible effect. 

Though Cortes had previously meant to take 
up his quarters on land with Olid, he now resolved 
upon this position. Having assembled the brig- 
antines near the towers, he sent to Olid's forces, 
and procured a detachment for this post. He 
seems to have been ignorant in his investment, 
of the city of the northern causeway, by which 
the Mexicans still had free communication with 
the land. To cut off all communication with the 
land in such a city was indeed almost impossi- 
ble. Under cover of the darkness, canoes still 
carried provisions and water to the city. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

CAPTURING THE CAUSEWAYS. 

Cortes had no intention of sitting down 
quietly to await the effects of a slow siege. 
This indeed would have been quite impossible 
to enforce with the means in his power. He 
resolved that a blow should be struck at Mexico 
every day. The Mexicans themselves were not 
slow in the defense of their city. Cortes had 
scarcely stationed himself at the towers of Xoloc, 
when he was attacked, that very night, by a 
a multitude of warriors. He says that these 
people seldom attacked by night unless certain 
of victory, but they broke through this custom 
more than once during the siege of Mexico. 
This time their intended blow was warded off 
by a steady fire from the brigantines and the 
Spanish musketeers. 

Morning had scarcely dawned, when Cortes* 
camp was again surrounded by Mexican warriors. 
He says that as far as the eye could reach, 
both along the causeway and over the water, 



CAPTURING THE CAUSEWAYS. 321 

nothing but human beings could be seen. They 
filled the air with such frightful howls that Cortes 
declares it seemed as though the world would 
come to an end. With the aid of their superior 
arms, the Spaniards drove them along the 
causeway, stormed an entrenchment which de- 
fended a bridge, and crossed the bridge. They 
drove the Mexicans almost to the city for refuge. 
The artillery of the little vessels swept the 
water of canoes on the eastern side of the 
causeway, but the Mexican boats swarmed on 
the other side, annoying the Spaniards greatly 
from this vantage point. To prevent this Cortes 
had the causeway opened near his encampment, 
that some of the brigantines might pass through 
to protect the other side. The vessels now 
gave chase to the canoes from both sides of 
the causeway, pursuing them into the suburbs 
of the city. They had not dared before to enter 
the city, on account of the shallow water, and 
the knowledge that the natives had driven stakes 
under the water to entrap the vessels. The 
captains now, however, discovered some broad 
canals, by which they pushed into the city, 
setting the houses afire and burning a consid- 
erable portion of the suburbs. The first day 
was spent in this manner. 



322 MONTEZUMA. 

On the following day, Sandoval left Iztapala- 
pan, and marched to a small town on the lake 
called Mexicaltzinco, part of which was ap- 
proached by a causeway. Sandoval had an en- 
gagement here with the Indians, in which he 
destroyed the most of their town. While he was 
engaged in this work, a detachment of warriors 
was sent from Mexico to destroy the causeway be- 
hind the Spaniards, and cut off their retreat. The 
warriors speedily made a breach in the causeway 
placing their enemies in a perilous position. But 
Cortes was informed of the situation of his captain, 
and sent two brigantines to his assistance. These 
brigantines were placed in the breach, and formed 
a bridge, over which the army passed in safety. 

Having arrived at Cojohuacan, Sandoval left 
his infantry here, and, accompanied by ten cava- 
liers, galloped out on the causeway where Cortes 
was fighting a battle with the Indians. Horsemen 
were unable to act on the obstructed causeway, 
endangered as it was by the long lances with 
which the Mexicans had supplied themselves foi 
this purpose. The cavaliers accordingly dis- 
mounted, and threw themselves into the conflict. 
The Mexicans battled bravely, but Cortes' can- 
non did them much injury. Canoes and footmen 
were beaten back again and again with such 



CAPTURING THE CAUSEWAYS. 323 

slaughter that they dartid not approach the 
Spaniards, and the bold warriors showed more 
fear than they had manifested before. Many of 
the Spaniards were wounded, however. Among 
them was Sandoval, pierced in the foot with an 
Indian lance. 

Meantime, Alvarado had discovered the un- 
guarded causeway to the north of the city upon 
which the inhabitants passed back and forth 
freely. He informed Cortes of this, who imme- 
diately ordered Sandoval's division to Tepejacac, 
an Indian village at the head of this causeway. 
Wounded as he was, Sandoval set out for this 
post. The Spaniards indeed were rarely excused 
on account of wounds, of which almost every sol- 
dier had his share. 

Since it was quite impossible for the other 
divisions to act without aid from the water, on 
account of the swarms of hostile canoes, Cortes 
sent four brigantines to the aid of Alvarado and 
two to the aid of Sandoval. The Mexicans were 
now forced to combat the three invading armies 
from the land alone. 

Cortes had battled for six successive days on 
the causeway, advancing, storming entrenchments, 
gaining broken bridges and filHng them up, retir- 
ing at night, and returning again in the morning 



324 MONTEZUMA. 

to find fresh breaches and new entrenchments. 
He now resolved on a concerted attack upon 
the city. He ordered Alvarado and Sandoval to 
advance toward Mexico from their different posi- 
tions, Olid was obliged to use part of his force 
in defending Cortes' rear; for some of the Indian 
allies, drawn from neighboring cities had rebelled, 
and threatened an attack from that quarter. 

Cortes sallied forth on foot m the early morn- 
ing. His troops marched along the causeway, 
where they soon met an obstacle. The Mexicans 
had made a breach, the length of a lance in 
width. On the farther side of tnis opening, they 
had thrown up a barricade, from which they de- 
fended the opening. A sharp battle ensued at 
this point. The brigantines which had moved 
along protecting the flanks of the army were now 
brought into play. Two of them were moved up 
along side of the defenders who could not long 
withstand their brisk cannonade. The gap was 
now quickly filled up and the army moved on. 

They had soon reached the entrance of the 
city, where stood some towers devoted to the 
worship of idols. At the base of this structure a 
large bridge had been raised, and a wide *' street 
of water," as Cortes calls the canals, flowed be- 
tween the Spaniards and the city. This also wai 



CAPTURING THE CAUSEWAYS. 32S 

defended by a strong entrenchment. The Mexi- 
cans immediately began to attack the Spaniards. 
But the brigantines were again brought up, and 
cleared the way. As soon as the enemy began to 
fly, the crews sprang upon the causeway, the little 
vessels were placed side by side in the opening, 
and the Spaniards passed across them followed by 
a large force of their Indian allies. The rear of 
the army then set to work to fill up the breach 
under Cortes' directions. Meantime, the Spaniards 
in front had advanced, and gained a new entrench- 
ment by a brisk charge, for it contained no water. 
The army pushed on along the street at the 
heels of the Mexicans. Again they reached an- 
other large canal on the opposite side of which 
was a strong barricade of sun-dried brick. One 
beam was left across the opening. In a mo- 
ment's time the nimble Indians had sped across 
this, and drawn it after them. The brigantines 
had not been able to advance into the town on 
account of the shallow water. The Spaniards 
could not cross without throwing themselves into 
the water, which they might perhaps have at- 
tempted had it not been for the fierce defenders 
on the other side. The Mexicans attacked the 
enemy courageously from the barricades and from 
the neighboring buildings. Cortes now hastened 



326 MONTEZUMA. 

his archers and musketeers to the spot, and brought 
up two cannon. With these he soon raked the 
street to the destruction of the Mexicans and their 
barricade. The battle lasted for two hours at this 
spot. No sooner did the enemy give way, than 
the foremost Spaniards threw themselves into 
the water, and waded over. At sight of them 
the last remnant of the Mexicans fled. Cortes 
immediately set about having this opening filled 
up. 

The Spaniards and their Indian friends pushed 
eagerly forward for some two bowshots. Here 
they were met by another bridge, but this had 
not been raised, for the Mexican, had not im- 
agined the enemy could reach this point. Nor 
had the Spaniards themselves expected to accom- 
plish so much. This bridge led into the great 
central square. There stood the great temple, 
and there were the well remembered palaces of 
Axayacatl and of Montezuma. The square was 
thronged with Mexicans. Cortes placed a heavy 
cannon at its entrance and opened fire upon the 
dense mass of Indians. So crowded was the 
square, that though many fell at the mouth of the 
cannon, no visible effect was made upon the mass. 
The Spaniards and their allies poured into the 
square, and the Mexicans fled within the " wall 



CAPTURING THE CAUSEWAYS. 327 

of serpents " around the temple. The hostile 
army soon forced them from this refuge. The 
Mexicans, indeed, seemed to have been overcome 
with panic at the sight of the Spaniards again 
within the very heart of Mexico. The Spanish 
army now took possession of the inclosure with 
its temples and towers. 

But if the Mexicans had for a moment lost 
their courage, it was but for a moment. They 
rallied, returned to the temple, attacked the 
enemy, expelled them from the temples, from 
the courts, and finally from the whole inclosure. 
Exposed to great loss and danger, the Spaniards 
were driven into the square and from the square 
into the street. They were forced to abandon 
their cannon. A general rout was imminent, and 
the Spaniards were likely to fall victims to Mexi- 
can revenge when several horsemen galloped upon 
the scene. At a charge from the dreaded cavalry, 
the enemy began to fall back. These were soon 
joined by six more horsemen who formed an am- 
buscade, and rushing suddenly upon the Mexicans 
despatched thirty of them. The tide had turned 
again. The Mexicans were put to flight, and 
the Spaniards regained possession of the temple 
court. Some ten or twelve of the principal in- 
habitants of the city fled for refuge up the great 



328 MONTEZUMA. 

temple. But they were pursued by a few Span- 
iards, who overcame them, and killed every man. 

It was already evening, and Cortes ordered a 
retreat. His army was collected, and began to 
move down the street. But the Mexicans re- 
gained their courage, and rushed to the pursuit. 
They attacked the rear of the army furiously. It 
became necessary to station the cavalry in the 
rear. The crossings having been filled up, the 
horse could act freely. Again and again the 
cavalry charged upon the Mexicans, destroying 
numbers of them with their lances. But in spite 
of their losses the Mexicans renewed the attack. 
Cortes compares them to rabid dogs. In order 
to secure their retreat, the Spaniards were obliged 
to capture some fine houses, from whose elevated 
terraces the Indians annoyed them greatly. They 
left these houses in flames. The Mexicans fol- 
lowed them almost to their very encampment. 

Meanwhile, the battle was going on as fero- 
ciously at each of the other causeways. Guate- 
mozin found means to combat the Spaniards at 
every one of these points. Alvarado's division 
suffered the most severely. Here, as at the other 
causeways, each day's work had to be done ovet 
again on the following day. It was quite impos- 
sible to hold the bridges when they had beeo 



CAPTURING THE CAUSEWAYS. 329 

secured, so that they had every day to be re- 
taken and filled up again. The horses were use- 
less so long as the causeway was daily defended 
by breaches and entrenchments bristling with 
long lances. When the Spaniards attempted to 
enter the city from this quarter, they were met 
with such storms of arrows and stones from the 
housetops as to drive back the men on the 
causeway and the brigantines. 

Finding that he gained but little and lost 
much, Alvarado resolved to change his camp 
from Tacuba, to a place where the causeway wid- 
ened, and some towers for idols stood. He left 
his cavalry and Indian allies at Tacuba, to secure 
his rear. Here the maize bread upon which the 
army subsisted was made and forwarded to the 
camp. The Spaniards then made a slow advance, 
tearing down the houses, which were difficult to 
set afire on account of their standing in the 
water. They filled up the canal crossings as they 
proceeded, and guarded every pass thus gained 
night and day. The duty of guarding in so 
small a force became very irksome to the weary 
Spaniards. 

It was the rainy season. The constant tramp 
of the army rendered the causeways very muddy. 
The soldiers marched, fought, and labored all day, 



330 MONTEZUMA. 

returned to their shelterless camp at night, to 
dress their wounds as best they might, and eat 
their provisions of corn cakes with herbs, and 
sometimes the addition of Indian figs. Their 
night's rest was broken by the guard duty, or 
the war-cry of the enemy, and the rush to arms. 

After the last great effort, Cortes had re- 
mained in camp three . days. During this time 
more allies had flocked to his standard, impressed 
by his success. The young chief Ixthilochitl, 
had joined Cortes with a large force. These In- 
dians carried all the ferocity of savage war into 
the struggle. In the raids upon the city, they 
cut off the flesh of dead Mexicans, and displayed 
it before the inhabitants, assuring them that 
they intended to eat it, which they indeed did. 
On the other hand, such food furnished suste- 
nance for the Mexicans. They had allies in 
many neighboring cities which still held to their 
allegiance, and furnished fresh recruits for the 
war, at the beating of the great drum upon the 
temple. But it was not without dismay that the 
Mexicans saw the people of Tezcuco, Chalco, 
Xochimilco, and Otumba, attacking their city and 
calling out the names of their several provinces. 

Cortes had resolved to strike another telling 
blow, that he might, if possible, bring the enemy 



CAPTURING THE CAUSEWAYS. 33I 

to terms. He never omitted his religious observ- 
ances. This morning, as before all his other 
great undertakings, mass was said, and Cortes 
marched out on the causeway accompanied by 
some fifteen or twenty cavalry, three hundred 
infantry, and an *' infinite host " of Indian allies 
as he says. The army had advanced three bow- 
shots along the causeway, when it was met by 
an advancing Mexican force. 

Guatemozin had not wasted his three days 
of respite from this quarter. The breaches had 
been cleared of the debris with which Cortes had 
filled them, fresh barricades had been constructed, 
and every thing rendered more impassable than 
before. Again the Spanish brigantines advanced, 
pouring a fire of cannon shot and musketry, from 
their decks, upon the Mexican army. These car- 
ried great destruction into the Mexican ranks, and 
at last the defending army retreated behind the 
next barricade. The Spanish army pushed slowly 
on in the face of such resistance, building bridges 
behind them and capturing breaches before. As 
the Spaniards entered the city, where the brigan- 
tines could not follow, they only carried the canals 
with great hazard and labor. 

Again the Spaniards pushed their way into 
the great square of Mexico, driving the inhabi* 



332 MONTEZUMA. 

tants before them. There Cortes ordered a halt 
while he finished the work of filling up the canals 
in the rear. It was nearly evening before this 
was accomplished. Meantime, the exasperated 
Mexicans attacked the Spaniards again and again 
in the public square. Cortes was obliged to lead 
the cavalry to the assistance of his men. He 
scoured the neighboring streets, driving the in- 
habitants at the point of the lance into the water. 
Thinking to dismay the Mexicans and drive 
them to submission, before they suffered farther, 
Cortes ordered the great palaces of the square to 
be destroyed. He said that it grieved him much, 
but, as it grieved the enemy more, he resolved to 
do it. The soldiers went at the work with zest. 
Especially did they enjoy the destruction of the 
scarred and battered palace of Axayacatl, the scene 
of their past sufferings. The walls were mostly 
of stone; but the supports were beams of wood, 
and there was a great deal of wood work on 
the inside. This was soon in a blaze, and crash 
after crash announced the fall of the walls. Near 
the palaces stood Montezuma's aviaries, " gay. and 
elegant buildings, according to Cortes. He set 
fire to these structures also. The Mexicans saw 
this destruction ol their finest edifices with great 
sorrow and dismay. But they were not daunted; 



CAPTURING THE CAUSEWAYS. 333 

they never once thought of submitting to the 
hard conquerors. 

Night had come on and Cortes ordered a 
retreat. The Spaniards had no sooner turned 
their back upon the square than the Mexicans 
rushed upon them in pursuit. The Spanish cav- 
alry turned and charged them, overtaking them 
and piercing them with their lances. Still they 
attacked the rear, again and again, filling the air 
with their war-cries. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

A MEXICAN VICTORY 

Never had there been so strange a siege as 
the siege of Mexico, and never was city more 
desperately defended. Cortes hourly expected 
the inhabitants to sue for peace, but still no such 
message came. The warriors only increased in 
fury. Cortes had cut off, as far as possible, all 
communication with the mainland, by keeping his 
vessels cruising about the city night and day. In 
this way many canoes and prisoners were cap- 
tured. The Mexicans, on their part, tried every 
means to capture the Spanish vessels. Once 
they chose a place where they planted stakes 
under the water. Near here they placed some 
thirty canoes in ambush among the reeds. One or 
two canoes then paddled out as decoys. The cap- 
tains of two brigantines saw them, and pursued. 
The natives in the canoes appeared greatly 
frightened, and paddled rapidly for shore. The 
brigantines swooped down upon them, but only 
to stick fast on the hidden piles in the water. 



A MEXICAN VICTORY. 335 

Instantly the concealed canoes pushed out from 
the reeds, and surrounded the vessels, attacking 
the crews. Both of the captains were killed, one 
of whom was Barba, and the brigantines fell 
into the hands of the natives. Cortes was as 
much exasperated as the Mexicans were de- 
lighted at this event. 

One night, as the brigantines were scouring 
the lake, they captured some important prisoners, 
from whom Cortes learned that the Mexicans had 
laid another ambuscade for his vessels. He imme 
diately sent six of his vessels with muffled oars 
to a certain place on the lake shore, where they 
were concealed by the tall reeds and the dark- 
ness. A single brigantine was then sent out 
as if in search of canoes. Desirous of capturing 
her, the Mexicans played their old trick of send- 
ing out several canoes, apparently loaded with 
provisions for the city. The brigantine gave 
chase The canoes fled, as before, for their 
ambuscade. The brigantine pursued, but, as she 
neared the trap, held off as if from some sus- 
picion. The canoes in ambuscade then rushed 
out to the attack. Immediately the brigantine 
gave the signal of two shots, when the six con- 
cealed vessels pushed out from their hiding-place. 
They ran down several canoes, and dispersed the 



336 MONTEZUMA. 

rest, returning with many prisoners. Thus Cortes 
cured the Mexicans of ambuscades on the water. 

Guatemozin's forces advanced in three bodies 
upon Alvarado's divisions. An army of his allies 
engaged Alvarado and the cavalry in the rear at 
Tacuba. A band of Mexicans then approached 
along the street and another over the ruins of 
the buildings which the Spaniards had destroyed. 
The Spaniards themselves advanced to meet them 
at a barricade which the Mexicans had thrown 
across the way. They stormed the barricade and 
captured it. Just on the other side they found 
a broken bridge. But the Spaniards plunged in 
and waded up to their necks through the water. 
They sprang out on the other side, and continued 
the pursuit, without waiting to fill up the canal, 
as Cortes had ordered them always to do. The 
Mexicans, being re-inforced, suddenly turned upon 
them, and attacked them from street and house- 
top. Forced back, the Spaniards made an orderly 
retreat to the broken bridge. But they found 
this place taken possession of by the Mexican 
canoes. The Spanish brigantines were unable to 
approach; for the Mexicans had previously fortifi- 
ed the spot with hidden piles, and the brigantines 
lost two men in attempting to pass. The Span- 
iards threw themselves into the water to either 



A MEXICAN VICTORY. 337 

Side of the causeway, and attempted to wade 
over. But they found themselves caught in a 
trap. The whole thing had been preconcerted 
among the Mexicans, and pits had been dug in 
the lake bottom to trip up the waders. Those 
who could not swim were helpless. Most of the 
Spaniards were wounded, and five men were taken 
alive by the Mexicans. 

Having learned a lesson by this defeat, Alva- 
rado's men spent four days in filling up this dis- 
astrous breach. They established their advanced 
post at this point, and the Mexicans established 
one opposite. In the night, when the latter kept 
guard, they built a great fire in front, so that 
the enemy could not see them, except when 
their dusky forms appeared renewing the fire, 
which was sometimes extinguished by the rains. 

Meantime, Cortes had followed up his last suc- 
cessful attack on the following day. But though 
the Spaniards were early on the march, the Mexi- 
cans had already cleared away the bridges at two 
of the canals. More determined than ever, they 
faced the enemy on the brink of these gaps. 
There was nothing for the Spaniards, but to 
thfcTOW themselves into the water and swim to 
the opposite side, where the Mexicans opposed 
their landing, slashing with sword and knife and 



338 MONTEZUMA, 

thrusting them down with lances. It took from 
eight o'clock in the morning until one in the 
afternoon to gain these two passes, so despe- 
rately did the Mexicans defend them. The Span- 
iards pushed on to the square, and there re- 
mained only time to gain two canals down the 
broad and noble street to Tacuba, which Alva- 
rado was forcing at the other end. Leaving the 
houses of this quarter in flames, the Spaniards 
began their retreat, for it was now night. On 
came the Mexicans at their heels. So impetu- 
ously did they pursue that one would think 
them to be the victors and the Spaniards the 
vanquished. Sometimes the Spanish rear would 
wheel upon them, and capture some dozen of 
the boldest pursuers. Again the cavalry would 
drop behind some ruined walls, and wait while 
the flying army hurried by with the Mexicans in 
close pursuit. Then they would sally forth, strik- 
ing their lances to the right and left among the 
brave Indian warriors. But, though they always 
suffered for it, Cortes says " their conduct was 
certainly worthy of admiration;" for no matter 
how great their losses, they never relaxed their 
pursuit, until they had seen the Spaniards out 
of the city. 

But, one by one, the cities of the valley were 



A MEXICAN VICTORY. 339 

dropping away from Guatemozin. They began 
to dread the vengeance of the Spaniards and 
their allies, while they saw no chance of succor 
from Mexico. From time to time, they sent in 
allegiance to Cortes. He always accepted it with 
the proviso that they should prove their sincerity 
by assisting in the war against the capital. He 
hoped to daunt the courage of the Mexicans by 
turning their own neighbors against them. But 
Guatemozin, on his part, had resolved to wear 
the Spaniards out by continual attacks. On the 
very anniversary of their former entry into Mex- 
ico, he attacked them by night. These attacks 
were repeated again and again. The few soldiers 
who fell at every engagement must have grad- 
ually thinned the ranks of the Spaniards. 

Day after day, Cortes continued his raids 
within the city. The Spaniards always came ofif 
victorious, slaying great numbers of the inhabi- 
tants, with cannons, muskets, and cross-bows. 
Every hour Cortes looked for proposals of peace, 
but still none came. He resolved to make an 
attack every day, until he had reduced the city 
to submission. He gathered recruits of warriors 
in their canoes from the lake cities in alliance 
with him. He sent his brigantines with detach- 
ments of these canoes to the several quarters of 



340 MONTEZUMA. 

the city, with orders to accomplish as much de- 
struction as they could. The captains then 
marched from their several positions to the at- 
tack. Cortes again led his forces down the broad 
avenue by which he always entered, and which 
was this time unbroken by fresh breaches. Ar 
rived at the public square, he turned into the 
street that leads to Tacuba, sending detachments 
of his men into the streets on either side of him, 
by way of defending his operations. Cortes then 
took three canals, and had them filled up. Night 
came on, and his forces returned to camp with 
much spoil. This day Alvarado and Sandoval 
were also successful in their advance toward the 
heart of the city. For once, the Mexicans had 
seemed intimidated, and the Spaniards believed 
that they had virtually gained three-fourths of 
the city. Cortes was quite certain the Mexicans 
would now sue for peace. But no sign of sub- 
mission came. Nevertheless, the Spaniards re- 
turned with light hearts to camp, feeling that 
their task was nearly hnished. 

The men of Alvarado's detachment were be- 
coming jealous of Cortes' troops having entered 
the other end of the street up which they were 
bravely pushing their way. The Mexicans were 
still in possession of the great market place of 



A MEXICAN VICTORY. 34I 

the city, which the Spaniards had so much ad- 
mired in the days of Montezuma. The men of 
both divisions were ambitious of the glory of first 
capturing this square. Fired by their successes, 
many of the Spaniards thought that the victory 
would be gained, if the market place was cap- 
tured. Cortes, however, was cautious about at- 
tempting a spot where he saw so many obstruc- 
tions that his men did not think of. This part 
of the city was intersected with many canals, 
every one of which was a serious obstacle to the 
progress of the army. But he finally called a 
council of war, at which this move was decided 
upon. Cortes sent messages to Alvarado and to 
Sandoval to join forces and attempt to reach 
the market place from the causeway of Tacuba, 
while he made the attempt from the southern 
causeway. Nevertheless, he told them that he 
did not oblige them to take a single step which 
might lead to disaster, for he well knew that 
these brave men would follow his orders, though 
it cost them their lives. 

The Spaniards were in movement early the 
following morning. Seven brigantines, with a 
large number of Indian canoes, were sent on their 
usual destructive expedition around the suburbs 
of the city. Cortes marched directly into Mexico, 



342 MONTEZUMA. 

his forces somewhat augmented by a detachment 
from the other divisions of his army. Arrived 
within the city, he divided his men into three 
bodies, with which he proposed to take the three 
streets which terminated in the great market 
place. Alderette, the king's tieasurer, with sev- 
enty Spaniards and a large force of Indians — to 
which was added seven or eight cavalry as a rear 
guard, and a dozen men with pick-axes to fill up 
the canals — was to march up the widest avenue. 
Two captains were ordered to charge up the 
second ; with a b©dy oi eighty Spaniards and 
another large force of allies. Cortes then under- 
took the narrowest and most difficult street a- 
foot, with some hundred infantry and the addi- 
tional Indian force. 

For a time the parallel armies in the several 
streets carried all before them. Already they 
were nearing the great square. Cortes had drop- 
ped behind to settle some difficulty among the 
Indian allies. The division in the main avenue 
sent him word that they had almost reached 
their goal, and wanted permission to proceed ; for 
they could now hear the noise of the combat 
of Alvarado and Sandoval, at the other side of 
the city. 

** By no means go forward without leaving 



A MEXICAN VICTORY. 343 

your bridges well filled up, so that, if it become 
necessary to retreat, there may be no obstacle in 
the road, for in this lies all the danger," was the 
general's message in return. 

The Spaniards sent back word : ** All that we 
have gained is in good condition. You may come 
and see for yourself." 

They hurried on. But Cortes suspected, 
from the rapidity of their progress, that some- 
thing was wrong. Accompanied by some fifteen 
or twenty Spaniards, he went to examine the 
wide avenue over which they had passed. It 
was as he had feared. The hot-headed soldiers 
had left a breach behind them, some ten or 
twelve paces in width. The water at this point 
was ten feet deep. The soldiers had indeed 
thrown in wood and reeds, and, having crossed it 
carefully and a few at a time, this slight bridge 
had sustained them. As Cortes said, *' they were so 
intoxicated with the pleasure of victory, that they 
thought it sufficiently firm." And on they went. 

As Cortes reached this spot, he suddenly 
heard an unusual din of war-like cries, and the 
rush of feet. The Spaniards and allies were re- 
treating in hot haste down the street, and the 
Mexicans were after them " like dogs in pursuit. ' 

" Hold ! hold ! " cried Cortes in despair. 



344 MONTEZUMA. 

But it was of no use. Already the water of 
the canal was filled with Spaniards and Indian 
allies. So densely were they packed that Cortes 
sair.d there did not seem to be room for a straw 
to float in it. The Mexicans were so fierce in 
their pursuit that they threw themselves into 
the water after the Spaniards. And now the 
Mexican canoes seemed to spring from the bot- 
tom of the water, so suddenly did they appear 
upon the scene. 

It was but the affair of a moment, when Cor- 
tes saw his men being killed or carried off alive 
by the enemy. The way in which he could do 
the most good was to save as many men as pos- 
sible. He and those who were with him gave 
their hands to the drowning men, and drew them 
from the water, some wounded, some half- 
drowned, and most of them unarmed. As they 
were rescued, Cortes sent them on. So bent 
were these few Spaniards on saving their com- 
rades, that they did not notice the swift gather- 
ing of a cloud of Mexican warriors. Already 
they are pressing upon Cortes and his few com- 
panions, but the general is so eager in giving his 
hands to sinking men that he has not noticed 
them. Several Mexicans rush forward and seize 
him. They are about to bear him ofli They ar* 



A MEXICAN VICTORY. 345 

to be revenged, their country is to be saved, and 
the war-god will rejoice in a victim to his taste. 
But a brave Spanish youth sprang forward : 
brought his sword down upon the arms of the 
captors, cutting them off at one blow, it is said, 
when he was slain by the Mexicans. Quinones, 
the captain of Cortes' body guard, now rushed 
to the scene, and rescued Cortes from his assail- 
ants. 

*' Let us leave this place and save your life," 
said Quinones ; '* for you know that without you, 
none of us can escape." 

But Cortes would not. He wished to remain 
by his men, though he was already wounded in 
his leg. Without further ado, the faithful cap- 
tain took the general up in his arms, and carried 
him away. At this moment Cortes felt that he 
would rather die than live ; but, urged by his 
companions, he joined them, and they made their 
way through the enemy with sword and buckler. 
Just then a devoted servant of the general was 
seen pushing forward on horseback, but a lance 
thrown from a neighboring terrace struck him in 
the throat and killed him. Another servant 
brought Cortes a horse to ride, and he mounted 
to take the command of the retreat. The mel^e 
of flying, disabled, unarmed Spaniards and In- 



3-^ MONTEZUMA. 

dians had crowded forward to where the street 
was narrow and surrounded upon either side by 
canals. These swarmed with Mexican canoes. 
The warriors were engaged in killing and cap- 
turing men from either side. The mud on the 
street had become so deep that it was almost 
impossible to stand. Many were jostled into the 
water by the panic-stricken crowd. 

Cortes extricated his men as best he could 
from this fatal trap. Arrived at the wide street 
of Tacuba, he got the remnant into something 
like order, and, joining some eight or nine cav- 
alry, protected the rear, which was hotly beset 
by the victorious Mexicans. Falling back to- 
ward the public square, Cortes sent word to his 
two other divisions to effect their retreat as reg- 
ilarly as possible. This they did without less, 
for they had not left any breaches in their rear. 
Cortes' army was soon assembled in the great 
square. They were attacked upon all sides by 
the Mexicans. The Spaniards could discern the 
burning of perfumed incense on the great temple, 
in honor of their victory. Chagrined and dis- 
heartened, the army made their way back to 
camp, it being much earlier in the day than their 
usual return. 

As for Sandoval and Alvarado, they had been 



A MEXICAN VICTORY. 34/ 

at first victorious, and had pushed their way 
bravely on. But no sooner had the Mexicans de- 
feated Cortes than the victors marched to this 
part of the city, displaying much pomp, plumes, 
and strange devices. They threw before the 
Spaniards some bleeding heads. 

" Here are the heads of Malinche and his offi- 
cers," they cried. "This will soon be your fate.** 

With this, they rushed upon the Spaniards, 
grappling with them foot to foot. They were 
forced to retreat. As they fell back, they heard 
the sound of the great serpent-skin drum, an- 
nouncing the sacrifice of some of their comrades 
upon the summit of the great temple. A shrill 
horn, by which Guatemozin urged on his warriors, 
now sounded, and the Mexicans redoubled the 
fury of their pursuit. But the Spaniards escaped 
in safety to their camp, where they anxiously 
wondered whether Cortes were indeed dead, and 
whether there was anything left of his army. 

Even the brigantines were defeated on this 
day. Two of them failed to return, and Cortes' 
heart sank within him at the thought that they 
too were lost. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

HOPE FOR MEXICO. 

The Mexicans were filled with joy at this 
signal victory. The city resounded with the 
noise of drums and horns and the shouts of re- 
joicing. Her warriors took fresh courage. They 
tore away the bridges, built with so much labor 
by the Spaniards ; they raised anew the entrench- 
ments and defensive works ; they advanced their 
posts again to the limits of the city. Their 
guard, indeed, built its watch-fires fairly in the 
face of Cortes' camp. But the Spaniards, weary, 
wounded, and destitute of arms, were too much 
discomfited to oppose them. The Mexicans 
gained fresh hope. Their gods, appeased by the 
living victims which daily graced their temples, 
promised them a complete victory over the 
enemy within eight days. Guatemozin sent mes- 
sengers to the provinces, bearing several heads 
of Spaniards and two horses' heads as credentials, 
with word that the people were by no means to 
make peace with the strangers, for he would soon 
put an end to them. 



HOPE FOR MEXICO. 349 

On the day of the defeat, Sandoval had re- 
turned to his quarters. The Mexicans had 
thrown before him the heads of his slain com 
rades. The cool, young commander was not to 
be terrified, however. He warned his men to keep 
a good countenance. Leaving them safe in their 
camp, he mounted his fine battle-horse, and gal- 
loped along the lake-shore toward the camp of 
Cortes, determined to ascertain the extent of the 
disaster. Several times he was assailed by the 
enemy, who had become very bold, but he pushed 
on unharmed. 

** I bring you my condolence. General, for 
your losses, and how is it that such a disaster 
has come upon you?" asked Sandoval, as he 
rode into camp. 

"Son Sandoval," Cortes answered the young 
man affectionately, and with tears in his eyes, "it 
is for my sins that I have merited such a misfor- 
tune. But the fault is with the treasurer Al- 
derette, who was ordered to fill up the bad pass 
•A'here the enemy threw us into confusion." 

" The fault lies with Cortes himself," loudly 
exclaimed Alderette, with the freedom of this 
camp of adventurers. " He never gave me any 
such orders ; but hurried us on after the enemy 
calling out, * Forward, gentlemen, forward/ " 



350 MONTEZUMA. 

A hot dispute ensued between the general 
and his officer, in this moment of disappointment 
and chagrin. Just then, the two missing brigan- 
tines came in sight. Though Cortes had be- 
lieved them lost, he had kept up a stout heart 
and a cheerful face in the presence of his com- 
rades, maintaining that they would return. He 
could not now conceal his joy at this relief from 
his fears. He turned to Sandoval. 

" I shall have to ask you," said he, " to take 
charge of our affairs, for I am at present unable 
to do so. Go now to Alvarado's quarters at 
Tacuba, for I fear the weight of the enemy's at- 
tack will fall upon this post." 

In the reports which Cortes sent to these 
other posts, he at first concealed the real extent 
of his losses, fearing to discourage his men. So 
far as we can judge from the comparison of the 
chronicles we have of these days, even in his let- 
ters to the emperor, Cortes was too apt to con- 
ceal or underrate his losses in battle, and to exag- 
gerate the numbers of his allies and of his ene- 
mies. He stated the loss of this battle at twenty 
five to his men, and in his letter at thirty-five or 
forty, while Bernal Diaz states it at seventy-two. 
The last number is probably nearer the truth. 
From forty to sixty of these were taken alive 



HOPE FOR MEXICO. 35 1 

4^d seven horses and two field pieces captured. 
Cortes lumps the loss of his allies at more than 
a thousand, and there were probably many more 
of them killed than of the Spaniards, as their 
numbers were very much greater. 

Sandoval galloped for Tacuba. It was even- 
ing when he arrived there, but he found the 
Spaniards hard pressed, repelling a Mexican at- 
tack. Bernal Diaz says that he, with other Span- 
iards, was at this time standing, waist deep, in 
the water, defending a vessel which had got 
aground, and which the Mexicans were trying 
hard to capture. Two of her crew were already 
killed and many of them wounded. Just as San- 
doval rode up, with one united effort the soldiers 
got her afloat again. The Mexicans continued 
their attack with redoubled fury. Sandoval re- 
ceived a blow in the face with a stone. He saw 
there was no time to be lost. 

" Retreat, gentlemen, retreat, if you do not 
want all the cavalry to be destroyed," he cried. 

They made their way back. The Mexicans 
followed them, unmindful of the destruction of 
the Spanish artillery which swept the causeway. 
Arrived at camp, the Spaniards were allowed a 
little respite. They were eagerly recounting and 
comparing the events of the day at the different 



352 MONTEZUMA. 

posts, when the horrid sound of the great drum 
of Mexico struck upon their ears, followed by 
the clashing and blowing of Aztec musical instru- 
ments. This camp was much nearer the great 
square than the others. Every Spaniard turned, 
and looked toward the temple. By the glare of 
the fires on its summit, the wild priests of Huit- 
zilopotchtli, could be seen winding up the temple 
stairs, to the sound of their mournful music. 
They drove some victims before them. When 
they had reached the summit, the Spaniards could 
discern the white bodies of some of their com- 
rades among the prisoners. These were decora- 
ted with plumes, and made to dance before the 
sanctuaries. Finally they were laid upon the 
stone, and sacrificed. The sensations of the Span- 
iards, who could not withdraw their eyes from 
this scene, were sickening. Never had the hor- 
rors of battle affected them as this horrible rite 
did. Every man put up a prayer to heaven to 
be saved from such a fate. Bernal Diaz said that 
he never afterwards entered battle without a sink- 
ing feeling about his heart. 

Night after night, the Spaniards heard the 
sound of the " accursed drum " until all the vic- 
tims had been executed. The mangled remains 



HOPE FOR MEXICO. 353 

of these rites, were thrown among the allies by 
the Mexicans. 

•' This will soon be your fate. The gods have 
promised it, that in eight days we shall conquer," 
they cried. 

And these gods were the gods of the allies. 
The promises of the deities conveyed through 
their priests had a real significance to them. 
They dared not await the expiration of the 
time. Indian-like and, indeed, human-like they 
were as greatly discouraged by defeat as they 
had been impressed by victory. They stole 
away in bands. Their forces melted like ice in 
the sun. Ixthilxochitl, whose unpronounceable 
name Bernal Diaz softens into Suchel, alone re- 
mained with Cortes' division, with some forty of 
his followers. A chief and some fifty followers, 
now composed Sandoval's force of allies, while the 
brave Tlascalan, Chichimecatl, with some eighty 
followers, still stood by Alvarado. Even these few 
men wavered in their faithfulness. Cortes asked 
them why their countrymen had deserted him. 

" The gods of the Mexicans have predicted 
your destruction," they solemnly answered ; and 
added, *' We see you all wounded, many are 
killed, our own loss is great, and Xicotencatl, 
from the first foretold that we should all lose oui 



354 MONTEZUMA. 

lives. Therefore, considering you as lost, our war 
dors have forsaken you." 

Cortes inwardly admitted that all this was 
much too true; but he put a cheerf'il face on the 
matter, ridiculed the Mexican predictions, and 
managed to induce this handful to stay by him. 

There was for a time a cessation of attacks 
on the part of the Spaniards, who needed rest, 
but by no means on the part of the Mexicans. 
The Spaniards had always to be on the defen- 
sive. Every fresh sacrifice was followed by a 
furious attack from the Mexicans, whose bitter 
hatred seemed renewed by this barbarous rite. 
Against Alvarado's division, which was on the 
shortest avenue to their city, they especially di- 
rected their hostilities. At this post, the entire 
force of infantry kept guard on the causeway 
by night, flanked by the brigantines. Half of 
the cavalry patrolled in Tacuba, half on the cause- 
way. In the day-time they must be always in 
readiness for the enemy. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

THE DESTRUCTION OF MEXICO. 

" Cut off the provisions and water of the 
Mexicans. There are so many warriors ; how 
can they subsist ? Their provisions must at some 
time be used up ; the water they get from wells 
is salt ; and they have no resource but from the 
frequent rains. Fight them by hunger and 
thirst, and do not throw away your men." 

Such was the advice that the young chief of 
the unpronounceable name gave to Cortes. The 
idea of waiting for hunger to do the work, was 
not a new one to the Spaniards; but they had 
been too impatient to await a protracted siege, 
with enemies behind them and the uncertainty 
of what was going on with regard to the con- 
quest of Mexico in the old world to goad them 
forward. Cortes was revolving a new plan of 
operations in his mind. But he was destitute of 
powder and other military stores. While the 
Spaniards were in the midst of their discomfi- 
ture and discouragement, messengers came to 



356 MONTEZUMA. 

Cortes from two allied provinces, complaining of 
the fnroads of Mexican provinces and calling for 
assistance. As Cortes says, the Spaniards were, 
indeed, ** in a f^ituation rather to require succor 
than to give it." But he felt that once to ap- 
pear to waver, once to show a sign of weakness, 
would be their ruin. His officers were greatly 
opposed to his sending away any of his force; 
but in spite of this, Cortes sent detachments 
under Tapia and Sandoval to the assistance of 
his allies. Both of these officers met the enemy 
in battle, came off victorious, and returned in a 
short time, having reduced the threatening Mexi- 
can provinces to submission. 

Fortunately for the schemes of Cortes, a ship 
of Ponce de Leon, the discoverer of Florida, was 
driven from this peninsula to Villa Rica. She 
was loaded with ammunition, and thus Cortes 
was supplied with powder and cross-bows for his 
further operations. 

For forty-five days, the Spaniards had be- 
sieged the city of Mexico. The whole surround- 
ing country had submitted to them, in so much 
that there was not a friendly town left around 
the lake shore, from which the people of Mexico 
could procure corn, meat, fruit, or water. The 
Spaniards assured them that they would neve/ 



THE DESTRUCTION OF MEXICO. 357 

ceaae to carry on the war by land or water, until 
the city submitted. But in vain. Never had 
the Mexicans shown fewer signs of weakness, 
never had they displayed greater spirit. Cortes 
resolved no longer to risk the lives of his men 
over the treacherous canals, so laborously filled 
up by the Spaniards and so industriously cleared 
away by the Mexicans. He would raze Mexico 
to the ground as he advanced, her ruins should 
fill up her water courses, so that they could no 
longer be opened. It was not without sorrow 
that the stern conqueror came to this conclusion, 
for he enthusiastically declares that *' Mexico was 
the most beautiful object in the world." 

The eight days of the Mexican prediction had 
expired, and still the Spaniards invested Mexico. 
The Tlascalans began to be ashamed and returned 
to the war. Ixthilochitl induced numbers of 
Tezucan warriors to enter the field, and Cortes 
found himself prepared for a fresh attempt. 

While these preparations were going forward 
in the Spanish camp, the Mexicans were busily 
concerting plans for their future defense, open- 
ing bridges, building barricades, and covering the 
public square and some of the streets with huge 
stones, to impede the movements of the cavalry. 

Before renewing his attacks, Cortes resolved 



358 MONTEZUMA. 

to make one more attempt to bring the Mexi. 
cans to terms. He held three men of consequence 
prisoners, and he proposed to these to carry a 
message for him to their king. They refused, 
saying that Guatemozin would certainly put them 
to death, ^f they appeared with such an errand. 
After some difficulty Cortes prevailed upon them 
to carry his message. With tears they asked 
him for a letter, which though it could not be 
read, would serve as their credentials. Cortes 
supplied them with one. 

" Tell your king," said he, " that, from the 
affection I bear the family of the great Monte- 
zuma, and in order to prevent the destruction of 
Mexico and the loss of lives, I am willing to treat 
for peace. He must know that, as his people are 
cut off from all provisions and water, and as all 
the nations which were formerly subject to Mexico, 
are now our allies, we will certainly soon conquer." 

When this message was first delivered to Gua- 
temozin, he appeared greatly enraged. But, re- 
covering his temper, he called a council of 
the nobles and priests of the city. The hope- 
lessness of their position, the desertion of his 
subjects from without and the distress within, 
were all freely discussed. There were those who 
were in favor of suing for peace, and the young 



THE DESTRUCTION OF MEXICO. 359 

king, perhaps, was inclined that way. But the 
priests, whose influence lay in the relisjion which 
the Spaniards sought to destroy, were opposed to 
submission in any form. 

" Look at the conduct of these strangers from 
the first," said they. ** See how they treated 
your uncle, the great Montezuma, Cacama, and 
the various other princes who were in their 
power. Think how they have grasped and wasted 
the wealth of the kingdom, and branded as slaves, 
others whom they have conquered. This Ma- 
linche is always insidious in his offers. Remem- 
ber your own fame as a warrior and the promises 
of the gods, and never submit to him." 

This speech touched Guatemozin's sense of 
honor so adroitly, that he determined never to be 
found in the position in which Montezuma had 
placed himself. He turned his attention to the 
saving of the remaining provisions, the procuring 
of water, and the endeavor to procure assistance 
by means of canoes sent out at night. For two 
days the Spaniards waited for an answer to their 
embassy, and it came. The Mexicans poured out, 
like roaring lions in a fresh attack upon Alva- 
rado's camp. 

'* Cowards ! cowards ! *' cried they. " Peace is 
for women, and arms for men." 



360 MONTEZUMA. 

Meantime, Cortes had been making his prepa- 
rations for the final attack upon Mexico. He 
called together the chiefs of his Indian allies, and 
requested them to join him with a large number 
of men, provided with the coa, a wooden tool 
which was used as a hoe among the natives. 
Again the Spanish armies marched into the city, 
again the brigantines and their fleet of Indian 
canoes attacked the outskirts of Mexico. Cortes 
had scarcely begun hostilities when the Mexi- 
cans made signs from behind a canal and en- 
trenchment for a parley. They told the general 
that some one had gone to call Guatemozin. 
Cortes ordered his men to desist from fighting 
and exchanging taunts with the enemy. For 
more than an hour he waited, when Guatemo- 
zin's answer came in showers of arrows, darts, 
and stones. Whereupon the Spaniards attacked 
and captured the canal and entrenchment. They 
found their movements greatly embarrassed by 
the large stones which the Mexicans had placed 
in the streets. 

At four points the work of destruction was 
now going forward. The various divisions of 
Spaniards and allies drove the brave Mexicans 
from their defenses. The Indian workmen then 
leveled the buildings, and filled the canals as 



THE DESTRUCTION OF MEXICO. 361 

they were captured with the ruins. The Mexi- 
cans were exasperated beyond measure to see the 
monuments of their skill, toil, and wealth burned 
and destroyed by the people of their own race. 

** You will have the labor of rebuilding all 
these," they cried to the destroyers ; " for, if we 
prevail, you know it will be so, and, if the Span- 
iards prevail, you will still have to rebuild for 
them." 

Alvarado was the first to reach the great tem- 
ple this time. It was stoutly defended by the 
Mexicans. They were headed by their fierce 
priests. Once or twice they drove the Spaniards 
down the temple stairs. Others fought the 
Spaniards from below. But at last the strangers 
have again taken the great temple. Cortes, from 
where he is battling, some distance away, sees 
smoke arising from its summits. He trembles 
for a moment, as he thinks that this may be a 
new sacrifice of human beings. But no, the sanc- 
tuaries are in a blaze. Alvarado had taken the 
the temple. Heaven be praised ! For the Span- 
iards really believed that they were serving God 
as well as their king. 

Day after day, Cortes entered the city. Each 
day the work of destruction progressed farther. 
Each evening, as he retired, the Mexicans fol- 



362 MONTEZUMA. 

lowed fast at his heels, believing he was inspired 
by fear. The din of battle filled the air contin- 
ually. The shouting, calling and whistling of the 
enemy, the blowing and clashing of their instru- 
ments of music, the tramp and rush of feet hither 
and thither, the destructive hammering at the 
buildings, the rumble of falling walls, the roar of 
flames, the crash of a roof going in, the reports 
of cannon and musketry, and the constant fling- 
ing back and forth of taunts filled the air. 
Even the night was made hideous by the Mexi- 
cans, for savage warriors always think to impress 
the enemy by much use of the lungs. 

More than once Cortes planned an ambuscade 
to rid himself of the pursuing Mexicans, and also 
to do them as much injury as possible. Once he 
placed a force in hiding, and, at the time of re- 
treating from the city, arranged that the cavalry 
should make a motion as if about to attack the 
Mexicans, and then retreat with an appearance of 
faint-heartedness. The least want of courage was 
noted by these fierce warriors. They rushed after 
the retreating army with the utmost fury, shout- 
ing as though they had gained a great victory, 
As they passed a cross street where the ambush 
was laid, a musket was fired as a signal, and, with 
the usual watch-word, the Spaniards fell upon 



THE DESTRUCTION OF MEXICO. 363 

their prey, slaughtering them in great numbers. 
The consternation of the Mexicans was so great 
at this disaster, that they did not shout once 
during the whole evening. The Spaniards lost a 
horse on this day. Her rider being unhorsed, 
the animal fled to the enemy, who met her with 
such a shower of missiles, that the poor creature 
hirned back again, and returned to the Spanish 
camp, where she soon after died. The loss of a 
horse was always a serious one ; but the Span- 
iards were thankful that the animal had not died 
among the Mexicans, for such an event always 
caused them great joy and exultation. 

The Mexicans were now entirely destitute of 
food. Their meals of human flesh were scanty, 
since they had no longer the power to do the 
enemy any serious damage. They were famished 
and disheartened. Already they were perishing 
of hunger. Throngs of people fished by night in 
the canals, and poured over the ruined portions 
of the city, in search of roots and herbs to gnaw. 
But they never once thought of capitulating to 
be branded as slaves by the Spaniards. Guate- 
mozin did not once think of submitting to be- 
come a tool, like Montezuma, in the hands of 
the white man. 

Now that the cause of Mexico seemed hope- 



3t>4 MONTEZUMA. 

less, the Spaniards were in no want of allies for 
their work of destruction. The natives flocked in 
great numbers to the Spanish standard, espe- 
cially as there was much plunder to be gotten 
within the city. Having heard from prisoners 
that the miserable inhabitants swarmed over the 
city at night to procure food, Cortes resolved to 
strike a blow which would do them as much in- 
jury as possible, hoping thus to bring them to 
terms. Before daylight, the Spanish army was 
on the move, and the brigantines sailed forth to- 
ward the canals, by which they could enter Mex- 
ico. The Spaniards stole in to the city, hid 
themselves in ambush, a^d when day dawned 
rushed forth, and attacked ** the enemy " — a mis- 
erable multitude of people in search of food, 
most of them unarmed, many of them women 
and children. More than eight hundred of them 
were either killed or taken, according to Cortes. 
The Spaniards now made their usual destructive 
progress in the city, this time unmolested by the 
Mexican warriors who were stunned by the blow 
just dealt them. The Spanish army returned to 
camp, laden with spoil. 

At last the three divisions of the army met. 
The Mexicans had long fortified themselves in a 
great pile of buildings surrounded by canals, 



THE DESTRUCTION OF MEXICO. 365 

Guatemozin had used this structure as his palace. 
The Mexicans were driven from this post, and 
the buildings destroyed. The day was busily 
spent in filling up canals level with the ground. 
Three-quarters of the city was now in the posses- 
sion of the Spaniards. The people had retired 
to the strongest portion of Mexico, toward the 
open lake. The houses of this quarter were 
poor buildings standing on piles in the water 

The Spaniards pushed on toward the market- 
place, the last stronghold of the Mexicans. They 
captured, with much fighting and severe labor, a 
great " street of water " which they filled up. 
" Nothing was to be heard on either side of the 
principal street," says Cortes* " but the burning and 
demolition of houses, which it was painful to be- 
hold ; but our purposes required it, and it was ne- 
cessary to proceed in this way." Finally, nothing 
but a canal and an entrenchment remained be- 
tween the Spaniards and the great market. Early 
one morning they rode toward the spot which was 
defended by the indomitable Mexicans. An en- 
sign and several Spaniards sprang into the water 
and began making their way across. Immediately 
the Mexicans fled. The water was speedily filled 
up, and the cavalry passed over. They galloped 
into the market-place, admiring the arcades which 



366 MONTEZUMA. 

surrounded it and which were still filled with 
Mexicans. The ground was strewn with half- 
eaten roots and bark, which told the tale of dire 
famine. Cortes ascended a tower which adjoined 
the market-place, where he found the heads of 
some Spaniards and Tlascalans. He now sur- 
veyed the city. The smoking ruins which marked 
the portion the Spaniards had captured, comprised 
seven eighths of Mexico. The Mexicans were 
huddled together in the small houses which re- 
mained to them. Considering that so many peo- 
ple could not live in so small a space and that 
they were already much reduced by famine, he 
resolved to discontinue hostilities for a few days, 
in hopes that the people might be induced to 
submit 



CHAPTER XXXVIIL 

THE CAPTURE OF GUATEMOZIN. 

Cortes said that it gave him much sorrow to 
continue to harass the Mexicans. This was un- 
doubtedly true, but he had another reason, as he 
himself admits, which made him anxious to bring 
the Mexicans to terms before hostilities had gone 
any farther. He had no doubt that they had 
much riches in their possession which he was 
anxious to secure. If he reduced the people by 
force, they would very likely throw their treas- 
ure into the water rather than allow the Span- 
iards to get it. What was procured would fall 
into the hands of the plundering Spanish soldiery 
and the Indian allies, who would be very unlikely 
to deliver it over to the authorities, especially in 
the light of past transactions in the division of 
treasure and slaves. But, though the Mexicans 
were dying like sheep of hunger and thirst, their 
bodies were thrown for concealment into the 
water, and the survivors still held out. 

Cortes had kept his carpenters busy for some 



368 MONTEZUMA. 

fifteen days on a battering-engine. By means of 
this machine, he hoped to supply the place of 
powder, which was running very low, and frighten 
the Mexicans into submission. This engine was 
erected in the centre of the market-place where 
there was a sort of raised building designed for 
the public games and amusements of the people, 
who occupied the arcades on such occasions. The 
whole thing proved a miserable failure. The car- 
penters did not understand the making of such a 
machine and the battering-engine refused to bat- 
ter. The Spaniards covered up their failure from 
the Mexicans by pretending that out of compas- 
sion for them they refrained from using this ter- 
rible engine. The Mexicans kept at a safe dis- 
tance from it, but were by no means frightened 
into submission by it. 

Hostilities had been suspended for three or 
four days and now numbers of women and chil- 
dren, wretched objects, dying of hunger or wan- 
dering about with haggard looks, filled the streets. 
Cortes says it was " the most melancholy specta- 
cle in the world," and he ordered that no haim 
should be done them. Still the warriors kept 
within their defences in their miserable *' nook " 
of the city. 

Cortes sent Guatemozin proposals of peace, 



THE CAPTURE OF GUATEMOZIN. 369 

but the king had no intention of accepting them. 
Most of the day was frittered away in this man- 
ner. Finally, the Mexicans themselves opened hos- 
tilities. Cortes then warned them that he would 
reduce them to still narrower quarters. He sent 
Alvarado to make an attack at one point while 
he made an attack at another. They went on 
foot, for it was impossible for cavalry to enter this 
quarter of the city. Hopelessly, but still bravely, 
the Mexicans resisted. Great numbers of them 
were killed and made prisoners, while the remain- 
der were forced into still straighter quarters. It 
was in vain for the Spaniards to reprove their 
allies. They had let loose a wild beast, and 
could not restrain it from wholesale cruelty. 

The Mexicans had now no resting place but 
on the bodies of the dead. The people were wil- 
ling enough to lay down their arms. The mat- 
ter lay only with Guatemozin and a few chiefs. 
On the following day, the Mexicans, seeing the 
great Spanish and Indian army arrayed against 
them, called upon the Spaniards to bring Cortes 
there immediately. Cortes had now become scep- 
tical as to the Mexican desire for peace. But he 
went to a canal on the opposite side of which 
stood the haggard warriors of the enemy. A 
parley ensued. The Mexicans said that Guatemo- 



370 MONTEZUMA. 

zin was afraid to risk a conference with the Span- 
iards. Cortes assured them with the most solemn 
oaths that he would do the king no harm. But 
nothing came of it. Two Mexican nobles played 
the farce of taking some bread and cherries from 
an enormous bag and eating. So persistently did 
they try to hide their own misery. 

Making another effort, Cortes sent a prisoner 
of rank to Guatemozin with offers of peace. It 
is said that the exasperated king ordered him 
killed when he delivered his message. At any 
rate, the only answer that Cortes got was the 
war-cries of the Mexicans. 

" Death is all we wish," they cried. With 
that they let fly a shower of arrows and stones, 
and began to fight more furiously than ever. One 
Mexican, who carried a Spanish sword on the end 
of a long pole, killed a horse with it. But it was 
not hard for the Spaniards to repay them dearly 
for this. 

The next day the Spaniards rode through the 
city, not seeking this miserable warfare with dy. 
ing men. Having waited in vain for any offers 
of peace, Cortes rode up to an entrenchment, and 
addressed some chiefs whom he had known of 
old. 

*' Since you see yourselves," said he, ** in such 



THE CAPTURE OF GUATEMOZIN. 3/1 

a desperate situation and know well that, if I 
pleased, in one hour none of you would be left 
alive, why will not your king come and confer 
with me, on my promising not to injure him ? 
If he will but seek peace, you shall all be well 
received and treated by me." 

" We are fully conscious of our hopeless condi- 
tion," said the Mexicans with tears in their eyes. 
** We will go and speak with the king, and return 
instantly." They soon came back and said : — '* As 
it is already evening, Guatemozin can not come 
now to confer with you. But, in the middle of 
next day, he will meet you in the market place, 
at all events." 

The Spaniards then returned to camp. Cortes 
caused a carpeted seat to be prepared in the 
building in the centre of the square, for the re- 
ception of Guatemozin and his nobles. He also 
ordered a repast to be prepared. In the morning 
the besieging armies moved as usual into the city 
Cortes cautioned his men to be on their guard, 
lest the Mexicans should yet meditate some 
treachery. Arrived at the square, Cortes sent a 
message to Guatemozin reminding him of his 
appointmmt. But Guatemozin did not come. 
Five of tV e principal chiefs of the city came in 
hi« stead, ind excused the king, saying that he 



372 MONTEZUMA. 

dared not confer with the Spaniards. Cortes 
feasted these ambassadors, and the voracious way 
in which they ate testified to the privation they 
had undergone. After they had eaten, Cortes 
sent them back to Guatemozin with a present of 
food and another request that he would meet 
him. In two hours they returned with a present 
of fine mantles from their king and the news 
that he would by no means come, and did 
not wish to confer with the Spaniards. Cor- 
tes answered that he could see no reason why 
the king should fear to come before him, when 
he saw that he treated his caciques well, though 
he knew them to be the chief promoters of the 
war. He begged them to return again, and 
bring about an interview with Guatemozin, if pos- 
sible, for it would be greatly to his interest. 
They consented, and promised to bring his an- 
swer on the following day. 

Early the next morning the Mexican caciques 
came to the Spanish camp. They asked Cortes 
to go again to the market place, where Guate- 
mozin would meet them. Cortes immediately 
mounted his horse, and, taking the Spaniards with 
him ; ordered his allies to remain without the city, 
for in case peace was concluded, he would not 
want them. He was determined to conclude the 



THE CAPTURE OF GUATEMOZIN. 373 

matter in some way to-day. He ordered Alva- 
rado to be in readiness, and gave Sandoval and 
his men charge of the little fleet, that everything 
might be prepared for the last blow, in case the 
Mexicans still held out. Cortes galloped through 
the city into the market-place, but found no one 
there. For three or four hours, the restless cava- 
liers waited here, but Guatemozin did not appear. 
They were deceived again. Cortes sent for the 
allies and Alvarado's division. Sandoval was 
ordered to attack the Mexicans by water. In a 
short time this poor remains of Mexico was sur- 
rounded on all sides. The Spaniards and allies 
sprang over the few ditches and entrenchments 
that remained to the Mexicans. It was not an 
attack, for the starving inhabitants were now des- 
titute of stones, arrows, or darts. Soon the pierc- 
ing cries and lamentations of women and children 
filled the air. Even the stern hearts of the Span- 
iards were moved. They would fain have put a 
stop to the indiscriminate slaughter which their 
allies carried on. Cortes says they had more to 
do to restrain their allies, than to fight the ene- 
my ; for, he declares, *' the people of this coun 
try are addicted to a cruelty exceeding what had 
ever been known in any generation." They not 
only attempted to restrain them from cruelty, but 



374 MONTEZUMA. 

from carrying off wholesale the rich plunder which 
had been gathered together in this quarter. But, 
as Cortes says, they were but a few hundred men, 
while the allies amounted to thousands. A hun- 
dred and fifty thousand, he states it. Accord- 
ing to him, forty thousand souls were killed or 
made prisoners on this day. Still the city was 
not yet taken : still the survivors held out. The 
pestilential odor from the dead bodies which had 
lain for a long time in the streets of this quarter 
of the city, drove the Spaniards back. They 
ivithdrew until the following day. 

The thirteenth of August, 1 521, dawned. Cor- 
tes made his dispositions for a final attack. He 
ordered Sandoval, with the brigantines, to enter 
a small basin of water within the quarter of the 
city where the Mexicans still were. Taking with 
him three field-pieces, he met Alvarado within 
the ruined city. The land forces were to drive 
the enemy toward the brigantines, whose captains 
were ordered to keep a strict lookout for Guate- 
mozin; for, if he were captured the war would be 
at an end. Before beginning operations, Cortes 
ascended a building overlooking the Aztec quar- 
ter, and addressed some of the principal men, 
** Why does your lord refuse to come to me," 
said he, ** when you are reduced to such ex- 



THE CAPTURE OF GUATEMOZIN. 3/5 

tremities? There is no good cause why you 
should all perish. Go and call him and have 
no fears." 

They went, and, after some time returned, with 
a warrior of great importance, Guatemozin's main 
counsellor. Cortes treated him with the greatest 
kindness, and endeavored to persuade him that 
there was no cause for fear. 

"Guatemozin will by no means come into 
your presence," answered the warrior. ** He pre- 
fers rather to die. This determination grieves 
me much, but you will have to do your will." 

"Very well," answered Cortes, "return to your 
friends, and prepare for the war which I will con- 
tinue until your destruction is completed." 

While the conference went on, many of the 
Mexicans were crowded together on piles of the 
dead, and some were swimming about and drown- 
ing in the water, still defended by Mexican canoes, 
The sufferings of the people were so excessive 
that many of the poor creatures sought refuge 
with the Spaniards, plunging into the water in 
their eagerness to reach them. Cortes stationed 
Spaniards at various points, to prevent, as far as 
possible, the allies from murdering these wretched 
creatures, but it was of little avail. Evening w^as 
coming on before Cortes could make up his mind 



3/6 MONTEZUMA. 

t© fight the warriors, still remaining in their pesti 
lential quarter, vainly trying to hide their misery 
Cortes ordered the cannon to be leveled at them. 
But the allies were more effective than cannon. 
The last charge was sounded, the last attack 
made. Some of the wretched Mexicans were 
drowned ; some perished at the hands of the al- 
lies ; some fell into the power of the more merci- 
ful Spaniards. The brigantines pushed into the 
small basin of water, and broke through the Mexi- 
can canoes, the warriors in them daring to offer 
no resistance. 

Guatemozin was determined not to place him- 
self in the hands of the men who had offered in- 
sults to Montezuma in the height of his power. 
Sandoval with his fleet was approaching, destroying 
the houses as he proceeded. Already he was near- 
ing Guatemozin's quarters. The chief with his wife 
and children, and his principal nobles, hastened into 
some large pirogues, reserved for the purpose, and 
began their flight across the lake. They made for 
the shore in various directions. Informed of this 
movement, Sandoval ordered his vessels to the 
pursuit. A captain named Garci Holquin com- 
manded the swiftest sailer of the fleet. He 
marked a large pirogue distinguished from the 
others by a peculiar awning and ornaments. He 



THE CAPTURE OF GUATEMOZIN. 377 

bore down upon this boat. When he neared her 
he made signs to the crew to '* bring to." But 
they only pulled the harder for shore. He then 
ordered his cross-bow-men and musketeers to take 
aim at her. The people in the boat made signs 
not to fire. The Spaniards sprang on board and 
captured Guatemozin and his family and atten- 
dants. Holquin showed the king the greatest re- 
spect and feasted him on the poop of his vessel. 

Being informed of the capture of the king, 
Cortes ordered him to be brought to him. Mean- 
time he prepared for a state reception, as best 
he could, by making a seat, laying down cloths 
and mantles, and preparing , refreshments. When 
the royal prisoner appeared, Cortes moved for- 
ward to meet him, and embraced him. 

" Malinche," said Guatemozin with tears in 
his eyes, " I have done my duty in the defence 
of my kingdom and my people. My efforts have 
failed, and I am now brought before you a pris- 
oner." He laid his hand on a poniard which 
Cortes wore at his side. " Strike me to the 
heart," said he. 

The war was ended. The country was con- 
quered. The kingdom of Montezuma and the 
region about it was henceforward New Spain. 

After seventy-five days of siege and incessant 



378 MONTEZUMA. 

battle, Mexico was taken; but she was no longer 
Mexico, she was but a heap of ruins lapped by 
the waters of the lake. As a fitting end to this 
great tragedy, the fall of a people, there was a 
frightful thunder storm during the night that fol- 
lowed. But so deafened had the Spaniards be- 
come by the din of battle, that Bernal Diaz as- 
serts that they could not hear the thunder. He 
says it was as though they had been for an hour 
in a steeple, with the bells ringing about their 
ears. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

CONCLUSION. 

Mexico rose on its ruins, a European city 
Again the central square was surrounded by fine 
buildings. But now a great cathedral took the 
place of the pyramid temple of Huitzilopotchli. 
The foundations of this Christian temple were 
laid with the broken images of the old deities. 
Where the ancient palace once stood, Cortes 
reared him a palace of hewn stone, in which 
seven thousand beams of cedar are said to have 
been used. It afterwards became the palace of 
the viceroys of Mexico, while Cortes' descend- 
ants, the dukes of Monte Leone, erected another 
on the very site of Montezuma's palace. And 
who rebuilt this beautiful city within less than 
four years? Surely not the handful of Spaniards 
who were most of them hidalgos, or gentlemen's 
sons, and couldn't tarnish their honor with any 
work but that of fighting. The natives of the 
country, many of them the very allies who had 
so carefully riveted the yoke around their own 



38o MONTEZUMA. 

necks, toiled to rebuild Mexico, as the Mexicans 
had predicted. They became slaves, for the ad- 
venturers did not go there to work, and must 
enrich themselves in some way. The home gov- 
ernment objected to the giving away of the in- 
habitants with the land , but her colonies were 
bound to enrich themselves, and the royal reve- 
nues from them, were certainly very comfortable. 

A good monk who was an eye-witness at the 
rebuilding of Mexico says that the natives suf 
fered greatly from what he calls the " ten plagues 
of New Spain." These were, the small pox, the 
slaughter during the conquest, a great famine 
which took place after the capture of the city, 
the Indian and negro overseers, the excessive 
tributes and services demanded from them, the 
gold mines, the rebuilding of Mexico, the mak- 
ing of slaves to work in the mines, the transport 
service for the mines, and the dissensions among 
the Spaniards themselves. 

Mexico stands to-day, a beautiful city, but 
she no longer stands in the water. The Span- 
iards soon deprived New Spain of her fine forests. 
Springs and streams dried up in the scorching 
sun, and Lake Tezcuco retired within its banks, 
leaving a broad margin of barren land, white with 
salt deposits, and Mexico high and dry. 



CONCLUSION. 381 

And what became of Guatemozin ? The Span- 
iards had been much disappointed with the treas- 
ure they found in Mexico. It amounted only to 
the " paltry sum of three hundred and eighty 
thousand crowns." There were all sorts of mur 
murs among the soldiers. Cortes was accuse 
of having taken ** one fifth as general and the 
other fifth as king." The white wall of the In- 
dian building which he occupied was scribbled all 
over with libelous squibs. The mildest of them 
ran — 

" Alas ! how sad a soul I bear. 
Until I see what is my share. 

Cortes wrote under these scrawls, ** A white 
wall, the paper of fools." The next morning, 
"and for truths," was added. Finally the thing 
became so scandalous that Father Olmedo told 
Cortes that he must put an end to it, which he 
accordingly did. 

The avaricious Spaniards were sure that 
Guatemozin had thrown rich treasure into the 
lake. Some of them, among whom was the 
royal treasurer, proposed that Guatemozin should 
be tortured until he confessed where he had 
hidden his riches. 

Cortes refused to do this after the promises of 
protection which he had made the unfortunate 



382 MONTEZUMA, 

king. It was then insinuated that Cortes was re. 
serving the knowledge of this secret for himself, 
that he might secure the treasure. Goaded by 
the accusations of his men, Cortes finally con- 
sented to this act of cruelty, which will always 
be a blot upon his name. Guatemozin and the 
cacique of Tacuba, who had been captured with 
him, were put to the torture. In the agony of 
suffering, the cacique of Tacuba is said to have 
appealed to Guatemozin, for permission to confesi 
what he knew. 

"Am I taking my pleasure in my bath!" an- 
swered the brave young Mexican. 

All that they could wring from them was that 
some treasure had been thrown into the water. 
At last, out of pure shame, Cortes released them. 
Divers were taken to the part of the lake desig- 
nated in the confession, and the bottom was dili- 
gently searched. Some small pieces of gold were 
recovered, but the avarice of the Spaniards was 
by no means satisfied. A large wheel of gold, 
probably representing the calendar, like those 
which Montezuma have given to Cortes, was 
afterwards found in a deep basin of water in the 
gardens of Guatemozin's palace. The Spaniards 
had to content themselves with this. 

Guatemozin was kept a prisoner by Cortea 



CONCLUSION. 383 

The conqueror with his small force, had more 
than once to suppress revolts in distant prov- 
inces, and was continually in dread of a rising 
among the whole people, under the new order 
of things. On one of his journeys to a distant 
province, Cortes, having his distinguished captive 
always with him, discovered, as he thought, some 
indications of a plot on the part of Guatemozin. 
There was undoubtedly a plan for rising among 
the Indians. Guatemozin, when examined, con- 
fessed this, but denied that he had any part in 
it, while the cacique of Tacuba, his companion 
in suffering, said that they had committed no 
further treason, than to say that death would be 
preferable to the life they led on this hard 
march. But Cortes chose to consider them guilty, 
and sentenced them to death. 

** Malinche," said Guatemozin, ** now I find in 
what your false promises have ended. Better that 
I had fallen by my own hands, than to have 
trusted myself to your power, in my city of Mex- 
ico. Why do you thus unjustly take my life?" 
The unfortunate princes were hung to a great 
tree. 

And the conqueror himself; what reward did 
he get from the king for whom he had gained a 
new kingdom " And did he " live happy ever 



384 MONTEZUMA. 

after," according to the ending of the old stories ? 
He founded a noble house ; he became the pos- 
sessor of immense estates in New Spain, and 
lived like a small monarch himself. His first wife 
died shortly after her arrival in Mexico, and he 
married a lady of noble descent. He presented 
her with some beautiful Mexican jewels, which 
the queen is said to have envied her. On his 
first return to Spain, he was received with all the 
honors befitting a great conqueror. But his life 
was no more peaceful than that of Columbus. 
The vice-royalty of the new kingdom was not 
given to Cortes. It was not the policy of the 
Spanish government to place this office in the 
hands of a great military captain, and especially 
one who had shown himself so capable of slip- 
ping away from authority. He was kindly per- 
mitted to fit out voyages of discovery along the 
Pacific coast in search of that magot of discover- 
ers, a northwest passage to the East Indies, at 
his own expense. He involved himself in debt 
in these enterprises, and, on his second return to 
Spain, was received with coldness at court, and 
suddenly died there. 

Few monuments now remain of the days of 
Montezuma. The great pyramid of Cholula still 
stands, overgrown with vegetation and surmounted 



CONCLUSION. 385 

by a chapel. An immense circular stone, weigh- 
ing more than twenty-four tons and known as 
Montezuma's watch, is worked into the wall of 
the cathedral at Mexico. It is carved with sym- 
bolical figures, and is probably one of those cal- 
endars, of which some were made of gold. Frcm 
the nature of the rock, it must have been trans- 
ported some forty or fifty miles by men alone. 
The descendants of the Mexicans are now free 
from slavery, and they are said to still pay honor 
to those among them who belong to caciques' 
families, in contradistinction to their vassals, 
showing the strength of their old customs. More 
than one noble Mexican house boasts of the 
blood of the unhappy Montezuma. 



THB BNIX 



<^EP 3X ^^'^ 



